@article {2028, title = {An updated world checklist of velvet worms (Onychophora) with notes on nomenclature and status of names}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1184}, year = {2023}, month = {16/11/2023}, pages = {133-260}, type = {Checklist}, abstract = {

More than a decade has passed since the publication of the only world checklist available for Onychophora. During this period, numerous nomenclatural acts and taxonomic changes have been suggested within the group and a wealth of novel data has been published on many taxa. Herein, the up-to-date taxonomic scenario within Onychophora is presented, with appraisal of name status. This checklist covers both extant (Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae) and fossil taxa, and each species is accompanied by information on synonyms, type designation, holotype location, type locality, and language of original description. Additional remarks include nomenclatural inconsistencies, synonymizations, name misspellings, conflicting collecting event data, availability of taxonomically informative molecular data, etc. According to the data, 237 species are currently assigned to Onychophora: 140 of Peripatopsidae, 92 of Peripatidae, and five fossil species with unclear relationship to extant taxa. Since the previous checklist, 37 species have been added to Onychophora, representing an increase of 18.5\% in the diversity described for the group. Yet, taxonomic descriptions seem slow-paced, with an average of 3.6 onychophoran species being described annually. From the taxonomic standpoint, 216 species are valid, although many of them require morphological revision and molecular characterization; 21 species exhibit major taxonomic ambiguities and have been regarded as nomina dubia. Recurrent taxonomic issues identified in the literature include inaccurate collecting event data, doubtful taxonomic assignment of molecular sequences, and non-observance of nomenclatural rules. These and other taxonomic aspects are addressed herein in the light of the directives established by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Remark: Closing date of checklist data is 18 August 2023.

}, keywords = {catalogue, extant, fossil, Peripatidae, Peripatopsidae, species list, Taxonomy}, issn = {1313-2989, 1313-2970}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1184.107286}, url = {https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/107286/}, author = {Oliveira, Ivo de Sena} } @article {1457, title = {Phylogenomic Analysis of Velvet Worms (Onychophora) Uncovers an Evolutionary Radiation in the Neotropics}, journal = {Molecular Biology and Evolution}, volume = {38}, year = {2021}, month = {24/08/2021}, pages = {5391 - 5404}, abstract = {

Onychophora (\“velvet worms\”) are charismatic soil invertebrates known for their status as a \“living fossil,\” their phylogenetic affiliation to arthropods, and their distinctive biogeographic patterns. However, several aspects of their internal phylogenetic relationships remain unresolved, limiting our understanding of the group\’s evolutionary history, particularly with regard to changes in reproductive mode and dispersal ability. To address these gaps, we used RNA sequencing and phylogenomic analysis of transcriptomes to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships and infer divergence times within the phylum. We recovered a fully resolved and well-supported phylogeny for the circum-Antarctic family Peripatopsidae, which retains signals of Gondwanan vicariance and showcases the evolutionary lability of reproductive mode in the family. Within the Neotropical clade of Peripatidae, though, we found that amino acid-translated sequence data masked nearly all phylogenetic signal, resulting in highly unstable and poorly supported relationships. Analyses using nucleotide sequence data were able to resolve many more relationships, though we still saw discordant phylogenetic signal between genes, probably indicative of a rapid, mid-Cretaceous radiation in the group. Finally, we hypothesize that the unique reproductive mode of placentotrophic viviparity found in all Neotropical peripatids may have facilitated the multiple inferred instances of over-water dispersal and establishment on oceanic islands.

}, keywords = {biogeography, dispersal, Gondwana, Onychophora, systematics, vicariance}, issn = {1537-1719}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab251}, url = {https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/38/12/5391/6357048}, author = {Baker, Caitlin M and Buckman-Young, Rebecca S and Costa, Cristiano Sampaio and Giribet, Gonzalo} } @article {1452, title = {Fossil onychophorans from Dominican and Baltic amber: Tertiapatus dominicanus n.g., n.sp. (Tertiapatidae n.fam.) and Succinipatopsis balticus n.g., n.sp. (Succinipatopsidae n.fam.) with a proposed classification of the subphylum Onychophora}, journal = {Invertebrate Biology}, volume = {119}, year = {2000}, month = {03/2000}, pages = {104-109}, abstract = {

Tertiapatus dominicanus n.g., n.sp. (Tertiapatidae n.fam.) and Succinipatopsis balticus n.gen., n.sp. (Succinipatopsidae n.fam.) (Lobopodia: Onychophora), the first Tertiary fossils of the Lobopodia, are described from Dominican and Baltic amber, respectively. Both families are characterized by the presence of simple legs lacking foot portions with claws and pads. Tertiapatidae is further characterized by soluble body pigments and oral papillae shorter than the legs. Succinipatopsidae is characterized by non-soluble body pigments and oral papillae longer than the legs. Nomenclatural changes include the erection of the class Udeonychophora n. nom. for terrestrial onychophorans with a ventral mouth, the order Ontonychophora n.nom. for extant onychophorans possessing legs with a differentiated \“foot\” portion, and the family Helenodoridae n.nom. for the genus Helenodora from the Carboniferous. The biogeographical significance of these fossils and their phylogenetic relationship with previously described onychophorans are discussed.

}, keywords = {Euonychophora, fossil velvet worms}, issn = {1077-8306, 1744-7410}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7410.2000.tb00178.x}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-7410.2000.tb00178.x}, author = {Poinar, George O.} } @article {1397, title = {Evolutionary History of Major Chemosensory Gene Families across Panarthropoda}, journal = {Molecular Biology and Evolution}, volume = {37}, year = {2020}, month = {04/08/2020}, pages = {3601-3615}, abstract = {

Chemosensory perception is a fundamental biological process of particular relevance in basic and applied arthropod research. However, apart from insects, there is little knowledge of specific molecules involved in this system, which is restricted to a few taxa with uneven phylogenetic sampling across lineages. From an evolutionary perspective, onychophorans (velvet worms) and tardigrades (water bears) are of special interest since they represent the closest living relatives of arthropods, altogether comprising the Panarthropoda. To get insights into the evolutionary origin and diversification of the chemosensory gene repertoire in panarthropods, we sequenced the antenna- and head-specific transcriptomes of the velvet worm Euperipatoides rowelli and analyzed members of all major chemosensory families in representative genomes of onychophorans, tardigrades, and arthropods. Our results suggest that the NPC2 gene family was the only family encoding soluble proteins in the panarthropod ancestor and that onychophorans might have lost many arthropod-like chemoreceptors, including the highly conserved IR25a receptor of protostomes. On the other hand, the eutardigrade genomes lack genes encoding the DEG-ENaC and CD36-sensory neuron membrane proteins, the chemosensory members of which have been retained in arthropods; these losses might be related to lineage-specific adaptive strategies of tardigrades to survive extreme environmental conditions. Although the results of this study need to be further substantiated by an increased taxon sampling, our findings shed light on the diversification of chemosensory gene families in Panarthropoda and contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of animal chemical senses.

}, keywords = {antenna-specific transcriptome, BITACORA, chemosensory-related proteins, comparative genomics, Onychophora, Tardigrada}, issn = {0737-4038}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaa197}, url = {https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/37/12/3601/5880555}, author = {Vizueta, Joel and Escuer, Paula and Fr{\'\i}as-L{\'o}pez, Cristina and Guirao-Rico, Sara and Hering, Lars and Mayer, Georg and Rozas, Julio and S{\'a}nchez-Gracia, Alejandro} } @article {1396, title = {Analysis of Pigment-Dispersing Factor Neuropeptides and Their Receptor in a Velvet Worm}, journal = {Frontiers in Endocrinology}, volume = {11}, year = {2020}, month = {12/05/2020}, pages = {1-21}, type = {Research article}, abstract = {

Pigment-dispersing factor neuropeptides (PDFs) occur in a wide range of protostomes including ecdysozoans (= molting animals) and lophotrochozoans (mollusks, annelids, flatworms, and allies). Studies in insects revealed that PDFs play a role as coupling factors of circadian pacemaker cells, thereby controlling rest-activity rhythms. While the last common ancestor of protostomes most likely possessed only one pdf gene, two pdf homologs, pdf-I and pdf-II, might have been present in the last common ancestors of Ecdysozoa and Panarthropoda (Onychophora + Tardigrada + Arthropoda). One of these homologs, however, was subsequently lost in the tardigrade and arthropod lineages followed by independent duplications of pdf-I in tardigrades and decapod crustaceans. Due to the ancestral set of two pdf genes, the study of PDFs and their receptor (PDFR) in Onychophora might reveal the ancient organization and function of the PDF/PDFR system in panarthropods. Therefore, we deorphanized the PDF receptor and generated specific antibodies to localize the two PDF peptides and their receptor in the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli. We further conducted bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) experiments on cultured human cells (HEK293T) using an Epac-based sensor (Epac-L) to examine cAMP responses in transfected cells and to reveal potential differences in the interaction of PDF-I and PDF-II with PDFR from E. rowelli. These data show that PDF-II has a tenfold higher potency than PDF-I as an activating ligand. Double immunolabeling revealed that both peptides are co-expressed in E. rowelli but their respective levels of expression differ between specific cells: some neurons express the same amount of both peptides, while others exhibit higher levels of either PDF-I or PDF-II. The detection of the onychophoran PDF receptor in cells that additionally express the two PDF peptides suggests autoreception, whereas spatial separation of PDFR- and PDF-expressing cells supports hormonal release of PDF into the hemolymph. This suggests a dual role of PDF peptides\—as hormones and as neurotransmitters/neuromodulators\—in Onychophora.

}, keywords = {BRET, E. rowelli, Ecdysozoa, Epac, Onychophora, Panarthropoda, PDF, PDFR}, issn = {1664-2392}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00273}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fendo.2020.00273}, author = {Martin, Christine and Hering, Lars and Metzendorf, Niklas and Hormann, Sarah and Kasten, Sonja and Fuhrmann, Sonja and Werckenthin, Achim and Herberg, Friedrich W. and Stengl, Monika and Mayer, Georg} } @article {1394, title = {The highest chromosome number and first chromosome fluorescent in situ hybridization in the velvet worms of the family Peripatidae}, journal = {Zoological Studies}, volume = {59}, year = {2020}, month = {03/03/2020}, pages = {1-8}, abstract = {

The diversity of Onychophora is poorly studied, despite there being nearly 200 described species divided in two families: Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae. Peripatid velvet worms are found mainly in the Neotropical region. The low morphological diversity in Peripatidae is an obstacle to determining its taxonomy, and chromosomal analyses can help clarify this. The aim of this work was to chromosomally analyze one species of Epiperipatus from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Conventional staining and telomeric fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed with the gonads of three males of Epiperipatus sp. The specimens showed 2n♂ = 73, the largest diploid number found in Onychophora to date, with the majority of chromosomes acro/telocentrics and the largest element submetacentric. The FISH marked the telomeric region of all elements and revealed one Interstitial Telomeric Site (ITS) on the proximal region of the long arm large submetacentric chromosome. The absence of male meiosis and female cell division in the analyzed specimens prevented us from determining whether the unpaired large submetacentric is a sex chromosome, which could lead to the description of a rare sex chromosome system (SCS) in Onychophora, or a case of fusion between autosomes. In either case, the presence of ITS is a clear indication of chromosomal fusion.

}, keywords = {Cryptic species, Epiperipatus, Heteromorphic chromosome, Interstitial Telomeric Site, karyotype}, issn = {1810-522X}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.6620/ZS.2020.59-05}, url = {http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/59/59-05.html}, author = {Duarte Dutra, D{\'e}bora and Bonfim Souza, Lucas Henrique and Medeiros Cordeiro, L{\'\i}via and Araujo, Douglas} } @article {1370, title = {The Wynberg Cave System, the most important site for cave fauna in South Africa at risk}, journal = {Subterranean Biology}, volume = {36}, year = {2020}, month = {16/11/2020}, pages = {73-81}, abstract = {

The Wynberg Cave System, located on the Cape Peninsula, represents one of the most significant sites of cave fauna in southern Africa. However, the continuous increase in cave visitation is severely impacting the system as evidenced by graffiti, the trampling and destruction of cave habitats and even a reduction in the sizes of bat colonies. In October 2019, the Wynberg Cave System was visited by a group of scientist, who discovered unregistered troglomorphic species. This, subsequently increased the number of troglobites occurring in the system to 19, which likely means that this system has the potential to become the first hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in Africa. Protecting the Wynberg Cave System is therefore of great importance. Here, we propose short and long-term strategies that include educating local communities on the importance of conserving caves and installing gated entrances.

}, keywords = {Cave protection, Invertebrates conservation, Subterranean biodiversity}, issn = {1768-1448, 1314-2615}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.36.60162}, url = {https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/60162/}, author = {Lopes Ferreira, Rodrigo and Giribet, Gonzalo and Du Preez, Gerhard and Ventouras, Oresti and Janion, Charlene and Souza Silva, Marconi} } @article {1354, title = {Dr. Martin Baehr (*10.3.1943, {\textdagger}17.4.2019) Obituary honouring his scientific achievements}, journal = {Spixiana - Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Zoologie}, volume = {43}, year = {2020}, month = {10/2020}, pages = {1-35}, type = {Obituary}, issn = {0341-8391}, url = {https://pfeil-verlag.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SPIX_43_1_01_PI.pdf}, author = {Pillukat, Angela and Melzer, Roland R.} } @article {1000, title = {Expression of the zinc finger transcription factor Sp6{\textendash}9 in the velvet worm Euperipatoides kanangrensis suggests a conserved role in appendage development in Panarthropoda}, journal = {Development Genes and Evolution}, volume = {230}, year = {2020}, month = {19/05/2020}, pages = {239-245}, abstract = {

The Sp-family genes encode important transcription factors in animal development. Here we investigate the embryonic expression patterns of the complete set of Sp-genes in the velvet worm Euperipatoides kanangrensis (Onychophora), with a special focus on the Sp6\–9 ortholog. In arthropods, Sp6\–9, the ortholog of the Drosophila melanogaster D-Sp1 gene plays a conserved role in appendage development. Our data show that the expression of Sp6\–9 during the development of the velvet worm is conserved, suggesting that the key function of the Sp6\–9 gene dates back to at least the last common ancestor of arthropods and onychophorans and thus likely the last common ancestor of Panarthropoda.

}, keywords = {Appendage development, Arthropod development, Buttonhead, Onychophora, Panarthropoda, Sp1, SP5}, issn = {0949-944X}, doi = {10.1007/s00427-020-00661-w}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00427-020-00661-w}, author = {Janssen, Ralf and Budd, Graham E.} } @article {427, title = {Diversity and evolution of the P450 family in arthropods}, journal = {Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology}, volume = {127}, year = {2020}, month = {22/10/2020}, pages = {1-22}, abstract = {

The P450 family (CYP genes) of arthropods encodes diverse enzymes involved in the metabolism of foreign compounds and in essential endocrine or ecophysiological functions. The P450 sequences (CYPome) from 40 arthropod species were manually curated, including 31 complete CYPomes, and a maximum likelihood phylogeny of nearly 3000 sequences is presented. Arthropod CYPomes are assembled from members of six CYP clans of variable size, the CYP2, CYP3, CYP4 and mitochondrial clans, as well as the CYP20 and CYP16 clans that are not found in Neoptera. CYPome sizes vary from two dozen genes in some parasitic species to over 200 in species as diverse as collembolans or ticks. CYPomes are comprised of few CYP families with many genes and many CYP families with few genes, and this distribution is the result of dynamic birth and death processes. Lineage-specific expansions or blooms are found throughout the phylogeny and often result in genomic clusters that appear to form a reservoir of catalytic diversity maintained as heritable units. Among the many P450s with physiological functions, six CYP families are involved in ecdysteroid metabolism. However, five so-called Halloween genes are not universally represented and do not constitute the unique pathway of ecdysteroid biosynthesis. The diversity of arthropod CYPomes has only partially been uncovered to date and many P450s with physiological functions regulating the synthesis and degradation of endogenous signal molecules (including ecdysteroids) and semiochemicals (including pheromones and defense chemicals) remain to be discovered. Sequence diversity of arthropod P450s is extreme, and P450 sequences lacking the universally conserved Cys ligand to the heme have evolved several times. A better understanding of P450 evolution is needed to discern the relative contributions of stochastic processes and adaptive processes in shaping the size and diversity of CYPomes.

}, keywords = {Detoxification, Ecdysteroid metabolism, Gene clusters, Orthologous groups, P450 Evolution}, issn = {0965-1748}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103490}, url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S096517482030179X}, author = {Dermauw, Wannes and Van Leeuwen, Thomas and Feyereisen, Ren{\'e}} } @article {426, title = {Morphological and molecular phylogeny of Epiperipatus (Onychophora: Peripatidae): a combined approach}, journal = {Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society}, year = {2020}, month = {07/11/2020}, pages = {1-31}, abstract = {

Onychophora, or velvet worms, are a key group for understanding ecdysozoan evolution. It comprises two families: Peripatopsidae, largely of Austral distribution, and Peripatidae, which is circumtropical. The interrelationships between the members of Peripatidae present many taxonomic issues exacerbated in the radiation of the Neotropical species or Neopatida. To understand the phylogeny of Neopatida, and to test the information of such morphological characters, we gathered novel molecular and morphological datasets focusing on Neotropical specimens. Our data were analysed using a combination of parsimony and maximum likelihood for the individual and combined molecular and morphological datasets. An analysis of morphology alone was inconclusive, supporting the notion that morphological characters used in peripatid taxonomy have little power to resolve phylogenetic relationships among higher taxa in Neopatida. However, the analyses of molecular or combined data show a split of the Neotropical species into two clades, which we use to reassign genera. Epiperipatus, as currently understood, is non-monophyletic, because it includes species of monotypic genera. To avoid paraphyly of Epiperipatus, the following new combinations are proposed: Epiperipatus bouvieri (Fuhrmann, 1913), Epiperipatus hitoyensis (Oliveira et al., 2012a), Epiperipatus solorzanoi (Morera-Brenes \& Monge-N\ájera, 2010) and Epiperipatus sucuriuensis (Oliveira et al., 2015).

}, keywords = {biogeography, cara{\"\i}bes onychophorans, conserved morphology, Epiperipatus, morphology, Neopatida, New World, Peripatidae, South America, systematics}, issn = {0024-4082}, doi = {10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa100}, url = {https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa100/5959943}, author = {Costa, Cristiano Sampaio and Giribet, Gonzalo and Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo} } @article {419, title = {Four myriapod relatives {\textendash} but who are sisters? No end to debates on relationships among the four major myriapod subgroups}, journal = {BMC Evolutionary Biology}, volume = {20}, year = {2020}, month = {04/11/2020}, pages = {1-15}, abstract = {

Background: Phylogenetic relationships among the myriapod subgroups Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Symphyla and Pauropoda are still not robustly resolved. The first phylogenomic study covering all subgroups resolved phylogenetic relationships congruently to morphological evidence but is in conflict with most previously published phylogenetic trees based on diverse molecular data. Outgroup choice and long-branch attraction effects were stated as possible explanations for these incongruencies. In this study, we addressed these issues by extending the myriapod and outgroup taxon sampling using transcriptome data.

Results: We generated new transcriptome data of 42 panarthropod species, including all four myriapod subgroups and additional outgroup taxa. Our taxon sampling was complemented by published transcriptome and genome data resulting in a supermatrix covering 59 species. We compiled two data sets, the first with a full coverage of genes per species (292 single-copy protein-coding genes), the second with a less stringent coverage (988 genes). We inferred phylogenetic relationships among myriapods using different data types, tree inference, and quartet computation approaches. Our results unambiguously support monophyletic Mandibulata and Myriapoda. Our analyses clearly showed that there is strong signal for a single unrooted topology, but a sensitivity of the position of the internal root on the choice of outgroups. However, we observe strong evidence for a clade Pauropoda+Symphyla, as well as for a clade Chilopoda+Diplopoda.

Conclusions: Our best quartet topology is incongruent with current morphological phylogenies which were supported in another phylogenomic study. AU tests and quartet mapping reject the quartet topology congruent to trees inferred with morphological characters. Moreover, quartet mapping shows that confounding signal present in the data set is sufficient to explain the weak signal for the quartet topology derived from morphological characters. Although outgroup choice affects results, our study could narrow possible trees to derivatives of a single quartet topology. For highly disputed relationships, we propose to apply a series of tests (AU and quartet mapping), since results of such tests allow to narrow down possible relationships and to rule out confounding signal.

}, keywords = {Arthropod phylogeny, conflict, Confounding signal, Internal rooting, Phylogenetics, phylogenomics, Quartet topology, RNA-Seq, Transcriptomes}, issn = {1471-2148}, doi = {10.1186/s12862-020-01699-0}, url = {https://bmcevolbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12862-020-01699-0}, author = {Szucsich, Nikolaus U. and Bartel, Daniela and Blanke, Alexander and B{\"o}hm, Alexander and Donath, Alexander and Fukui, Makiko and Grove, Simon and Liu, Shanlin and Macek, Oliver and Machida, Ryuichiro and Misof, Bernhard and Nakagaki, Yasutaka and Podsiadlowski, Lars and Sekiya, Kaoru and Tomizuka, Shigekazu and Von Reumont, Bj{\"o}rn M. and Waterhouse, Robert M. and Walzl, Manfred and Meng, Guanliang and Zhou, Xin and Pass, G{\"u}nther and Meusemann, Karen} } @article {404, title = {On the importance of fine-scale sampling in detecting alpha taxonomic diversity among saproxylic invertebrates: A velvet worm (Onychophora: Opisthopatus amaxhosa) template}, journal = {Zoologica Scripta}, volume = {48}, year = {2019}, month = {20/02/2019}, pages = {243-262}, abstract = {

The phylogeography and social structure of the narrow endemic velvet worm species Opisthopatus amaxhosa were investigated by conducting fine-scale sampling in its distribution range in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. In addition, and as part of larger grant on forest biodiversity, Opisthopatus specimens sampled at localities not included during a recent evaluation of the genus were included in a new phylogeny. A total of 89 specimens from 18 sample localities were collected at three forest patches for O.\ amaxhosa samples, while an additional six Opisthopatus sample localities were included. For O.\ amaxhosa, we sequenced the COI locus for all specimens, while a subset of specimens was sequenced for two nuclear loci, 18S rRNA and the fushi tarazu intron (FTz). Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences of the latter species revealed the presence of two highly divergent clades, characterised by marked uncorrected sequence divergence values. In addition, these two clades did not share any maternal haplotypes, were characterised by high FST values and fixed nuclear difference for the 18S rRNA locus, while the FTz intron was genetically invariant. Furthermore, the application of scanning electron microscopy between the two genetically divergent clades also revealed the presence of fixed ventral and dorsal scale numbers. Collectively, this provides evidence for a novel species that is present at a fine scale. Divergence time estimations suggest that the two clades diverged during the late and early Pleistocene with climatic cycling potentially causal to the fragmentation. The social structure was male-biased, and samples from the same logs were not always genetically identical. At the broader scale, the inclusion of new specimens within Opisthopatus revealed no novel lineages. Fine-scale sampling appears more important to detect alpha taxonomic diversity compared to broadscale sampling.

}, keywords = {conservation, fine-scale, forest fragmentation, novel species, phylogeographic, population-level}, issn = {0300-3256}, doi = {10.1111/zsc.12338}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/zsc.2019.48.issue-2}, author = {Barnes, Aaron and Daniels, Savel R.} } @article {403, title = {Systematics of the Peripatopsis clavigera species complex (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) reveals cryptic cladogenic patterning, with the description of five new species}, journal = {Invertebrate Systematics}, volume = {34}, year = {2020}, month = {14/08/2020}, pages = {569-590}, abstract = {

During the present study, DNA sequence data, gross morphology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine cryptic species boundaries in the velvet worm, Peripatopsis clavigera species complex, from the southern Cape Afrotemperate forest belt in South Africa. Sequence data were generated for the mitochondrial COI and the nuclear 18S rRNA loci and phylogenetically analysed using both a Bayesian inference and a maximum-likelihood approach. Both the COI data and the combined DNA sequence topology (COI+18S) revealed the presence of five clades within the Peripatopsis clavigera species complex, and revealed that specimens from Tulbagh were distantly related and represented a sixth clade. The evolutionary distinction of the five clades was corroborated to varying degrees by the four species-delimitation methods (ABGD, PTP, GMYC and STACEY); however, both the gross morphological data and the SEM provided limited diagnostic differences between the five clades. Furthermore, the COI haplotype network and phylogeographic analyses provided evidence of genetic isolation between lineages that are currently syntopic. The distribution of genealogically exclusive and widespread maternal lineages was atypical among velvet worms and did not reflect the general trend of genetic and geographical isolation. Instead, lineages exhibited admixture among localities, a result most likely due to fluctuations in climatic conditions affecting the southern Cape Afrotemperate forest during the Pliocene\–Pleistocene period as evident from our divergence time estimations. Four novel, narrow-range endemic species \– P. ferox, sp. nov., P. mellaria, sp. nov., P. edenensis, sp. nov. and P. mira, sp. nov. \– are described within the P. clavigera species complex, whereas the Tulbagh specimens are described as P. tulbaghensis, sp. nov. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Peripatopsis likely contains several undescribed species.

}, keywords = {climatic amelioration, endemic, novel species, sympatry, velvet worm}, issn = {1445-5226}, doi = {10.1071/IS19071}, url = {http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=IS19071}, author = {Barnes, Aaron and Reiss, Till and Daniels, Savel R.} } @article {367, title = {{\textquoteright}Moa{\textquoteright}s Ark{\textquoteright} or {\textquoteright}Goodbye Gondwana{\textquoteright}: is the origin of New Zealand{\textquoteright}s terrestrial invertebrate fauna ancient, recent or both?}, journal = {Invertebrate Systematics}, volume = {24}, year = {2010}, month = {17/05/2010}, pages = {1-8}, abstract = {

Evaluating the hypothesis of New Zealand\’s total submersion during the Oligocene requires the strictest tests, including sound phylogenetic data and dating of phylogenies. Although New Zealand has been traditionally considered to host ancient biota that originated by vicariance after it separated from Australia ~80\ Mya, the ancient origins of its biota have been recently questioned, with some authors even suggesting that all current land organisms had to arrive to the islands after it re-emerged from the ocean 22\ million years ago. Here we examine examples of short-range endemic soil-dwelling invertebrates and find compelling evidence that at least some of them are the result of old lineages that diversified in New Zealand before the hypothesised submersion event 22\ million year ago. We conclude that New Zealand indeed has old lineages as well as recently diversified lineages and compare this situation with that of other more stable areas of the Neotropics.

}, issn = {1445-5226}, doi = {10.1071/IS10009}, url = {http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=IS10009}, author = {Giribet, Gonzalo and Boyer, Sarah L.} } @article {360, title = {Functional morphology of a lobopod: case study of an onychophoran leg}, journal = {Royal Society Open Science}, volume = {6}, year = {2019}, month = {16/10/2019}, pages = {191-200}, abstract = {

Segmental, paired locomotory appendages are a characteristic feature of Panarthropoda\—a diversified clade of moulting animals that includes onychophorans (velvet worms), tardigrades (water bears) and arthropods. While arthropods acquired a sclerotized exoskeleton and articulated limbs, onychophorans and tardigrades possess a soft body and unjointed limbs called lobopods, which they inherited from Cambrian lobopodians. To date, the origin and ancestral structure of the lobopods and their transformation into the jointed appendages are all poorly understood. We therefore combined high-resolution computed tomography with high-speed camera recordings to characterize the functional anatomy of a trunk lobopod from the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the complete set of muscles and muscle fibres as well as non-muscular structures revealed the spatial relationship and relative volumes of the muscular, excretory, circulatory and nervous systems within the leg. Locomotory movements of individual lobopods of E. rowelli proved far more diverse than previously thought and might be governed by a complex interplay of 15 muscles, including one promotor, one remotor, one levator, one retractor, two depressors, two rotators, one flexor and two constrictors as well as muscles for stabilization and haemolymph control. We discuss the implications of our findings for understanding the evolution of locomotion in panarthropods.

}, keywords = {musculature, myoanatomy, Onychophora, three-dimensional reconstruction, tomography, velvet worm}, issn = {2054-5703}, doi = {10.1098/rsos.191200}, url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.191200}, author = {Oliveira, Ivo de Sena and Kumerics, Andreas and Jahn, Henry and M{\"u}ller, Mark and Pfeiffer, Franz and Mayer, Georg} } @article {264, title = {{\'E}tudes pour servir {\`a} l{\textquoteright}histoire naturelle des Myriapodes}, journal = {Annales des sciences naturelles, s{\'e}rie 2, Zoologie}, volume = {7}, year = {1837}, month = {01/1837}, pages = {35-60}, abstract = {

Recommended citation: Gervais, P. (1837): \Études pour servir \à l\’histoire naturelle des Myriapodes. Annales des sciences naturelles, s\érie 2, Zoologie, 7: 35-60. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/28836

}, url = {https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/28836}, author = {Gervais, P.} } @article {227, title = {Description of Peripatus oviparus}, journal = {Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, series 2}, volume = {10}, year = {1895}, month = {09/09/1895}, pages = {195-200}, abstract = {
}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.24341}, url = {https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6368042}, author = {Dendy, Arthur} } @article {226, title = {On the specific identity of the Australian Peripatus usually supposed to be P. leuckarti, Saenger}, journal = {Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, series 2}, volume = {10}, year = {1895}, month = {09/09/1895}, pages = {172-194}, abstract = {
}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.24340}, url = {https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6368019}, author = {Fletcher, J. J.} } @article {220, title = {Cryptic speciation in a biodiversity hotspot: multilocus molecular data reveal new velvet worm species from Western Australia (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae: Kumbadjena)}, journal = {Invertebrate Systematics}, volume = {32}, year = {2018}, month = {27/11/2018}, pages = {1249-1264}, abstract = {

There is a yet uncovered multitude of species to be found among Western Australian Onychophora. Kumbadjena, one of the two genera that reside in this region, has been previously suggested to house an extensive species complex. Morphology alone has not been able to elucidate the diversity in this genus and has instead muddled species delineations. Topologies and species delimitation analyses resulting from the sequences of two mitochondrial ribosomal markers (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), one nuclear ribosomal marker (18S rRNA), and one mitochondrial protein-coding gene (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) are indicative of several undescribed species. Fixed diagnostic nucleotide changes in the highly conserved sequences of 18S rRNA warrant distinction of three new species of Kumbadjena: K. toolbrunupensis, sp. nov., K. karricola, sp. nov., and K. extrema, sp. nov. The geographic distributions of the proposed species suggest that Kumbadjena is another example of short-range endemism, a common occurrence in the flora and fauna of the region. The extensive biodiversity and endemism in the region necessitates conservation to preserve the species and processes that promote speciation harboured by Western Australia.

}, keywords = {conservation, endemism, molecular diagnosis}, issn = {1445-5226}, doi = {10.1071/IS18024}, url = {http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=IS18024}, author = {Sato, Shoyo and Buckman-Young, Rebecca S. and Harvey, Mark S. and Giribet, Gonzalo} } @inbook {197, title = {The anatomy and development of Peripatus novae-britanniae }, booktitle = {Zoological results based on material from New Britain, New Guinea, Loyalty islands and elsewhere, collected during the years 1895, 1896 and 1897}, volume = {1}, year = {1898}, pages = {1-52}, publisher = {University Press,}, organization = {University Press,}, address = {Cambridge [England]}, doi = {10.5962/bhl.title.69286}, url = {https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43057590}, author = {Willey, Arthur} }