02601nas a2200229 4500008004100000022002500041245010800066210006900174260001500243300001200258490000900270520192100279653001402200653001102214653001102225653001602236653001902252653001702271653001302288100002202301856004802323 2023 eng d a1313-2989, 1313-297000aAn updated world checklist of velvet worms (Onychophora) with notes on nomenclature and status of names0 aupdated world checklist of velvet worms Onychophora with notes o c16/11/2023 a133-2600 v11843 a

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.

10acatalogue10aextant10afossil10aPeripatidae10aPeripatopsidae10aspecies list10aTaxonomy1 aOliveira, Ivo, dS uhttps://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/107286/02384nas a2200253 4500008004100000020001400041245014700055210006900202260001500271300000800286490000700294520156900301653001501870653001801885653001601903653001601919100001601935700002101951700002801972700002302000700002402023700002102047856006202068 2023 eng d a1759-665300aSizing Up the Onychophoran Genome: Repeats, Introns, and Gene Family Expansion Contribute to Genome Gigantism in Epiperipatus broadwayi0 aSizing Up the Onychophoran Genome Repeats Introns and Gene Famil c15/02/2023 a1-60 v153 a

Genome assemblies are growing at an exponential rate and have proved indispensable for studying evolution but the effort has been biased toward vertebrates and arthropods with a particular focus on insects. Onychophora or velvet worms are an ancient group of cryptic, soil dwelling worms noted for their unique mode of prey capture, biogeographic patterns, and diversity of reproductive strategies. They constitute a poorly understood phylum of exclusively terrestrial animals that is sister group to arthropods. Due to this phylogenetic position, they are crucial in understanding the origin of the largest phylum of animals. Despite their significance, there is a paucity of genomic resources for the phylum with only one highly fragmented and incomplete genome publicly available. Initial attempts at sequencing an onychophoran genome proved difficult due to its large genome size and high repeat content. However, leveraging recent advances in long-read sequencing technology, we present here the first annotated draft genome for the phylum. With a total size of 5.6Gb, the gigantism of the Epiperipatus broadwayi genome arises from having high repeat content, intron size inflation, and extensive gene family expansion. Additionally, we report a previously unknown diversity of onychophoran hemocyanins that suggests the diversification of copper-mediated oxygen carriers occurred independently in Onychophora after its split from Arthropoda, parallel to the independent diversification of hemocyanins in each of the main arthropod lineages.

10ahemocyanin10aPanarthropoda10aPeripatidae10avelvet worm1 aSato, Shoyo1 aCunha, Tauana, J1 ade Medeiros, Bruno, A S1 aKhost, Danielle, E1 aSackton, Timothy, B1 aGiribet, Gonzalo uhttps://academic.oup.com/gbe/article/15/3/evad021/703970401894nas a2200121 4500008004100000245014700041210006900188300001000257490000700267520133500274100002601609856013701635 1993 eng d00aList of terrestrial invertebrates of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (exclusive of Acarina and Insecta), with some records of freshwater species0 aList of terrestrial invertebrates of St John US Virgin Islands e a30-380 v293 a

Abstract: A list is given of the terrestrial invertebrates known to occur on St. John, with the exception of the Acarina and Insects. Included are: Platyhelminthes (land planarian) – 1; Mollusca (snails and slugs) – 32; Annelida (earthworms) – 1; Onychophora (Peripatus) – 1; Crustacea (woodlice, beachhoppers, crabs) – 28; Arachnida (scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, spiders, etc.) – 120; Myriapoda (centipedes, millipedes, etc.) – 19. In addition, a few freshwater species are noted. A bibliography of all works referring to these animals is provided.


Resumen: Se provee una lista de los invertebrados terrestres conocidos de St. John, con la excepción de Acarina e Insecta. Se incluyen: Platyhelminthes (planaria terrestre) – 1; Mollusca (caracoles y babosas) – 32; Annelida (lombrices de tierra) – 1; Onychophora (Peripatus) – 1; Crustacea (carcomas, saltarines, cangrejos) - 28; Arachnida (escorpiones, pseudoescorpiones, opiliones, arañas, etc.) – 120; Myriapoda (ciempiés, milpiés) – 19. También son informadas varias especies dulceacuícolas. Se provee una bibliografía que incluye todos los trabajos referentes a estos animales.

1 aMuchmore, William, B. uhttps://myriatrix.myspecies.info/content/list-terrestrial-invertebrates-st-john-us-virgin-islands-exclusive-acarina-and-insecta-some02336nas a2200253 4500008004100000022001400041245010900055210006900164260001500233300001600248490000700264520155700271653001701828653001401845653001301859653001601872653001601888653001501904100002201919700003001941700003001971700002102001856006002022 2021 eng d a1537-171900aPhylogenomic Analysis of Velvet Worms (Onychophora) Uncovers an Evolutionary Radiation in the Neotropics0 aPhylogenomic Analysis of Velvet Worms Onychophora Uncovers an Ev c24/08/2021 a5391 - 54040 v383 a

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.

10abiogeography10adispersal10aGondwana10aOnychophora10asystematics10avicariance1 aBaker, Caitlin, M1 aBuckman-Young, Rebecca, S1 aCosta, Cristiano, Sampaio1 aGiribet, Gonzalo uhttps://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/38/12/5391/635704801937nas a2200217 4500008004100000022002500041245017200066210006900238260001500307300000900322490000800331520117100339653002001510653001501530653001501545653003301560653001301593100003001606700002101636856006201657 2021 eng d a1077-8306, 1744-741000aPanamanian velvet worms in the genus Epiperipatus, with notes on their taxonomy and distribution and the description of a new species (Onychophora, Peripatidae)0 aPanamanian velvet worms in the genus iEpiperipatusi with notes o c25/05/2021 a1-120 v1403 a

Among the least studied clade of velvet worms (Onychophora) is a clade of Neotropical Peripatidae (=Neopatida). Neopatida has been traditionally divided into an Andicoles group and a Caraïbes group, which now correspond to Oroperipatus and the remaining genera, respectively. Panama is located in a unique position bridging the faunas of both clades and of two large continents, both of which host an important diversity of velvet worms, yet taxonomic study of the Panamanian onychophorans has been largely neglected. In this study we critically evaluate the onychophoran diversity of Panama, redescribe a species from the former Canal Zone and describe a new species from the Pacific side, close to Costa Rica, as Epiperipatus bernali sp. nov., with a unique combination of characters visible under the SEM. We further discuss the existence of multiple lineages of Onychophora in Panama, both from the Andicoles and Caraïbes groups, and within the latter, with connections to different lineages, both from South and Central America.

 

10aCentral America10amorphology10aNeotropics10aScanning electron microscopy10aTaxonomy1 aCosta, Cristiano, Sampaio1 aGiribet, Gonzalo uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ivb.1233601832nas a2200169 4500008004100000022002500041245025900066210006900325260001200394300001200406490000800418520109600426653001801522653002401540100002301564856007501587 2000 eng d a1077-8306, 1744-741000aFossil 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 Onychophora0 aFossil onychophorans from Dominican and Baltic amber iTertiapatu c03/2000 a104-1090 v1193 a

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.

10aEuonychophora10afossil velvet worms1 aPoinar, George, O. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-7410.2000.tb00178.x03996nas a2200157 4500008004100000022001400041245012500055210006900180260001500249300000900264520345700273100002403730700002303754700002503777856003603802 2002 eng d a0003-008200aFossiliferous Cretaceous Amber from Myanmar (Burma): Its Rediscovery, Biotic Diversity, and Paleontological Significance0 aFossiliferous Cretaceous Amber from Myanmar Burma Its Rediscover c26/03/2002 a1-723 a

Amber from Kachin, northern Burma, has been used in China for at least a millennium for carving decorative objects, but the only scientific collection of inclusion fossils, at the Natural History Museum, London (NHML), was made approximately 90 years ago. Age of the material was ambiguous, but probably Cretaceous. Numerous new records and taxa occur in this amber, based on newly excavated material in the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) containing 3100 organisms. Without having all groups studied, significant new records and taxa thus far include the following (a † refers to extinct taxa): For Plants: An angiosperm flower (only the third in Cretaceous amber), spores and apparent sporangia of an unusual but common fungus, hepatophyte thalli and an archegoniophore of Marchantiaceae, and leafy shoots of Metasequoia (Coniferae). Metasequoia is possibly the source of the amber. For Animals: Mermithidae and other Nematoda; the oldest ixodid tick (a larval Amblyomma); bird feathers; and the only Mesozoic record of the Onychophora ('velvet' worms), described as †Cretoperipatus burmiticus, n. gen., n. sp. (Peripatidae). Poinar's classification of the Onychophora is substantially revised. Still largely unstudied, the fauna of mites (Acari) and spiders (Araneae) appears to be the most diverse ones known for the Mesozoic. For Insecta: Odonata indet. (wing fragment); Plecoptera indet.; new genera of Dermaptera, Embiidina, and Zoraptera (the latter two as the only definitive Mesozoic fossils of their orders). Within Hemiptera, there are primitive new genera in the Aradidae, Hydrometridae, Piesmatidae, Schizopteridae, and Cimicomorpha (Heteroptera), as well as in †Tajmyraphididae (Aphidoidea), and †Protopsyllidiidae. An adult snakefly (Raphidioptera: †Mesoraphidiidae) is the smallest species in the order, and new genera occur in the Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae, Berothidae, and Psychopsidae, as well as larvae of apparent Nevrorthidae. Coleoptera are largely unstudied, but are probably the most diverse assemblage known from the Cretaceous, particularly for Staphylinidae. An adult lymexylid, the most primitive species of Atractocerus, is the first Mesozoic record of the family. In Hymenoptera there are primitive ants (Formicidae: Ponerinae n. gen., and †Sphecomyrma n.sp (Sphecomyrminae)), the oldest record of the Pompilidae, and significant new records of †Serphitidae and †Stigmaphronidae, among others. Diptera are the most diverse and abundant, with the oldest definitive Blephariceridae and mosquito (Culicidae), as well as new genera in the Acroceridae, Bibionidae, Empidoidea; a new genus near the enigmatic genus Valeseguya, and an unusual new genus in the †Archizelmiridae. †Chimeromyia (Diptera: Eremoneura), known previously in ambers from the Lower Cretaceous, is also represented.

The stratigraphic distribution of exclusively Mesozoic arthropods in Burmese amber is reviewed, which indicates a probable Turonian-Cenomanian age of this material (90-100 Ma). Paleofaunal differences between the NHML and AMNH collections are discussed, as is the distinct tropical nature of the original biota. Burmese amber probably harbors the most diverse biota in amber from the Cretaceous, and one of the most diverse Mesozoic microbiotas now known.

1 aGrimaldi, David, A.1 aEngel, Michael, S.1 aNascimbene, Paul, C. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/2246/291402671nas a2200301 4500008004100000022001400041245008200055210006900137260001500206300001400221490000700235520176100242653003502003653001302038653003402051653002502085653001602110653001502126100001802141700001802159700002802177700002202205700001702227700001702244700001702261700003102278856006002309 2020 eng d a0737-403800aEvolutionary History of Major Chemosensory Gene Families across Panarthropoda0 aEvolutionary History of Major Chemosensory Gene Families across  c04/08/2020 a3601-36150 v373 a

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.

10aantenna-specific transcriptome10aBITACORA10achemosensory-related proteins10acomparative genomics10aOnychophora10aTardigrada1 aVizueta, Joel1 aEscuer, Paula1 aFrías-López, Cristina1 aGuirao-Rico, Sara1 aHering, Lars1 aMayer, Georg1 aRozas, Julio1 aSánchez-Gracia, Alejandro uhttps://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/37/12/3601/588055503166nas a2200349 4500008004100000022001400041245009200055210006900147260001500216300000900231490000700240520220100247653000902448653001502457653001402472653000902486653001602495653001802511653000802529653000902537100002202546700001702568700002302585700001902608700001802627700002002645700002302665700002702688700001902715700001702734856006502751 2020 eng d a1664-239200aAnalysis of Pigment-Dispersing Factor Neuropeptides and Their Receptor in a Velvet Worm0 aAnalysis of PigmentDispersing Factor Neuropeptides and Their Rec c12/05/2020 a1-210 v113 a

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.

10aBRET10aE. rowelli10aEcdysozoa10aEpac10aOnychophora10aPanarthropoda10aPDF10aPDFR1 aMartin, Christine1 aHering, Lars1 aMetzendorf, Niklas1 aHormann, Sarah1 aKasten, Sonja1 aFuhrmann, Sonja1 aWerckenthin, Achim1 aHerberg, Friedrich, W.1 aStengl, Monika1 aMayer, Georg uhttps://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fendo.2020.0027302198nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245014200055210006900197260001500266300000800281490000700289520138400296653002001680653001701700653002901717653003201746653001401778100002701792700002901819700003101848700002001879856005701899 2020 eng d a1810-522X00aThe highest chromosome number and first chromosome fluorescent in situ hybridization in the velvet worms of the family Peripatidae0 ahighest chromosome number and first chromosome fluorescent iin s c03/03/2020 a1-80 v593 a

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.

10aCryptic species10aEpiperipatus10aHeteromorphic chromosome10aInterstitial Telomeric Site10akaryotype1 aDutra, Débora, Duarte1 aSouza, Lucas, Henrique B1 aCordeiro, Lívia, Medeiros1 aAraujo, Douglas uhttp://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/59/59-05.html01475nas a2200265 4500008004100000022001400041245006000055210005800115260001500173300001200188490000600200520077600206653001400982653001800996653001501014653001001029653001201039653001801051653001201069653001101081653001301092653001601105100002101121856006701142 2019 eng d a2624-282600aBurmese (Myanmar) amber checklist and bibliography 20180 aBurmese Myanmar amber checklist and bibliography 2018 c28/02/2019 a22–840 v23 a

A list of all known taxa described or recorded from Burmese amber from the published literature up to the end of 2018 is given, along with a comprehensive bibliography. The history of the study of inclusions is summarised, and demonstrates that the number of species has risen exponentially over the past two decades. The first three species were named in 1916 and by the end of 1920 a total of 42 species had been named by T.D.A. Cockerell. Only three more species were named by 1999 though by the end of 2018 the total had risen to an incredible 1,192 species, of which over half were named in the past three years. Some 320 species were named in 2018, the highest number described from one type of amber in any one year in the entire history of amber studies.

10aArachnids10aBurmese amber10aCretaceous10afungi10ainsects10ainvertebrates10aMyanmar10aplants10aprotists10avertebrates1 aRoss, Andrew, J. uhttps://www.mapress.com/pe/article/view/palaeoentomology.2.1.501693nas a2200241 4500008004100000022002500041245009200066210006900158260001500227300001000242490000700252520092200259653002001181653003101201653003001232100002901262700002101291700002201312700002201334700002101356700002601377856004801403 2020 eng d a1768-1448, 1314-261500aThe Wynberg Cave System, the most important site for cave fauna in South Africa at risk0 aWynberg Cave System the most important site for cave fauna in So c16/11/2020 a73-810 v363 a

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.

10aCave protection10aInvertebrates conservation10aSubterranean biodiversity1 aFerreira, Rodrigo, Lopes1 aGiribet, Gonzalo1 aPreez, Gerhard, D1 aVentouras, Oresti1 aJanion, Charlene1 aSilva, Marconi, Souza uhttps://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/60162/00512nas a2200145 4500008004100000022001400041245009500055210006900150260001200219300000900231490000700240100002100247700002300268856007500291 2020 eng d a0341-839100aDr. Martin Baehr (*10.3.1943, †17.4.2019) Obituary honouring his scientific achievements0 aDr Martin Baehr 1031943 1742019 Obituary honouring his scientifi c10/2020 a1-350 v431 aPillukat, Angela1 aMelzer, Roland, R. uhttps://pfeil-verlag.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SPIX_43_1_01_PI.pdf01544nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245018500055210007100240260001500311300001200326490000800338520074400346653002601090653002601116653001501142653001601157653001801173653000801191653000801199100001801207700002101225856005601246 2020 eng d a0949-944X00aExpression of the zinc finger transcription factor Sp6–9 in the velvet worm Euperipatoides kanangrensis suggests a conserved role in appendage development in Panarthropoda0 aExpression of the zinc finger transcription factor Sp6–9 in the  c19/05/2020 a239-2450 v2303 a

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.

10aAppendage development10aArthropod development10aButtonhead10aOnychophora10aPanarthropoda10aSp110aSP51 aJanssen, Ralf1 aBudd, Graham, E. uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00427-020-00661-w02624nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245006100055210006100116260001500177300000900192490000800201520194600209653001902155653002702174653001802201653002302219653001902242100002002261700002402281700002202305856006702327 2020 eng d a0965-174800aDiversity and evolution of the P450 family in arthropods0 aDiversity and evolution of the P450 family in arthropods c22/10/2020 a1-220 v1273 a

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.

10aDetoxification10aEcdysteroid metabolism10aGene clusters10aOrthologous groups10aP450 Evolution1 aDermauw, Wannes1 aVan Leeuwen, Thomas1 aFeyereisen, René uhttps://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S096517482030179X02424nas a2200277 4500008004100000022001400041245010600055210006900161260001500230300000900245520153800254653001701792653002801809653002501837653001701862653001501879653001401894653001401908653001601922653001801938653001601956100003001972700002102002700002802023856009502051 2020 eng d a0024-408200aMorphological and molecular phylogeny of Epiperipatus (Onychophora: Peripatidae): a combined approach0 aMorphological and molecular phylogeny of Epiperipatus Onychophor c07/11/2020 a1-313 a

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-Nájera, 2010) and Epiperipatus sucuriuensis (Oliveira et al., 2015).

10abiogeography10acaraïbes onychophorans10aconserved morphology10aEpiperipatus10amorphology10aNeopatida10aNew World10aPeripatidae10aSouth America10asystematics1 aCosta, Cristiano, Sampaio1 aGiribet, Gonzalo1 aPinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo uhttps://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa100/595994303914nas a2200505 4500008004100000022001400041245012800055210006900183260001500252300000900267490000700276520241600283653002402699653001302723653002302736653002102759653001802780653001802798653002102816653001202837653001902849100002702868700002002895700002202915700002102937700002202958700001802980700001702998700001703015700001803032700002303050700002003073700002303093700002403116700001803140700002403158700002803182700002703210700001903237700002003256700001403276700001903290700002103309856007803330 2020 eng d a1471-214800aFour myriapod relatives – but who are sisters? No end to debates on relationships among the four major myriapod subgroups0 aFour myriapod relatives but who are sisters No end to debates on c04/11/2020 a1-150 v203 a

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.

 

10aArthropod phylogeny10aconflict10aConfounding signal10aInternal rooting10aPhylogenetics10aphylogenomics10aQuartet topology10aRNA-Seq10aTranscriptomes1 aSzucsich, Nikolaus, U.1 aBartel, Daniela1 aBlanke, Alexander1 aBöhm, Alexander1 aDonath, Alexander1 aFukui, Makiko1 aGrove, Simon1 aLiu, Shanlin1 aMacek, Oliver1 aMachida, Ryuichiro1 aMisof, Bernhard1 aNakagaki, Yasutaka1 aPodsiadlowski, Lars1 aSekiya, Kaoru1 aTomizuka, Shigekazu1 aVon Reumont, Björn, M.1 aWaterhouse, Robert, M.1 aWalzl, Manfred1 aMeng, Guanliang1 aZhou, Xin1 aPass, Günther1 aMeusemann, Karen uhttps://bmcevolbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12862-020-01699-002954nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245018300055210006900238260001500307300001200322490000700334520216900341653001702510653001702527653002502544653001802569653002002587653002302607100001802630700002302648856005302671 2019 eng d a0300-325600aOn the importance of fine-scale sampling in detecting alpha taxonomic diversity among saproxylic invertebrates: A velvet worm (Onychophora: Opisthopatus amaxhosa) template0 aimportance of finescale sampling in detecting alpha taxonomic di c20/02/2019 a243-2620 v483 a

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.

 

10aconservation10afine‐scale10aforest fragmentation10anovel species10aphylogeographic10apopulation‐level1 aBarnes, Aaron1 aDaniels, Savel, R. uhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/zsc.2019.48.issue-202811nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245017900055210006900234260001500303300001200318490000700330520205500337653002602392653001202418653001802430653001302448653001602461100001802477700001602495700002302511856004702534 2020 eng d a1445-522600aSystematics of the Peripatopsis clavigera species complex (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) reveals cryptic cladogenic patterning, with the description of five new species0 aSystematics of the iPeripatopsis clavigerai species complex Onyc c14/08/2020 a569-5900 v343 a

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.

10aclimatic amelioration10aendemic10anovel species10asympatry10avelvet worm1 aBarnes, Aaron1 aReiss, Till1 aDaniels, Savel, R. uhttp://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=IS1907101539nas a2200157 4500008004100000022001400041245012600055210006900181260001500250300000800265490000700273520101200280100002101292700002101313856004701334 2010 eng d a1445-522600a'Moa's Ark' or 'Goodbye Gondwana': is the origin of New Zealand's terrestrial invertebrate fauna ancient, recent or both?0 aMoas Ark or Goodbye Gondwana is the origin of New Zealands terre c17/05/2010 a1-80 v243 a

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.

1 aGiribet, Gonzalo1 aBoyer, Sarah, L. uhttp://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=IS1000902373nas a2200277 4500008004100000022001400041245007400055210006900129260001500198300001200213490000600225520157100231653001601802653001501818653001601833653003701849653001501886653001601901100002201917700002201939700001601961700001801977700002001995700001702015856006302032 2019 eng d a2054-570300aFunctional morphology of a lobopod: case study of an onychophoran leg0 aFunctional morphology of a lobopod case study of an onychophoran c16/10/2019 a191-2000 v63 a

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.

 

10amusculature10amyoanatomy10aOnychophora10athree-dimensional reconstruction10atomography10avelvet worm1 aOliveira, Ivo, dS1 aKumerics, Andreas1 aJahn, Henry1 aMüller, Mark1 aPfeiffer, Franz1 aMayer, Georg uhttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.19120002552nas a2200301 4500008004100000022001400041245010100055210006900156260001500225300001200240490000800252520168600260653001501946653001401961653001401975653001501989653002302004653001402027653002002041653001302061653002302074100002602097700001802123700001702141700002502158700002002183856004702203 2020 eng d a1313-298900aConservation of terrestrial invertebrates: a review of IUCN and regional Red Lists for Myriapoda0 aConservation of terrestrial invertebrates a review of IUCN and r c28/04/2020 a221-2290 v9303 a

Red Listing of Threatened species is recognized as the most objective approach for evaluating extinction risk of living organisms which can be applied at global or national scales. Invertebrates account for nearly 97% of all animals on the planet but are insufficiently represented in the IUCN Red Lists at both scales. To analyze the occurrence of species present in regional Red Lists, accounts of 48 different countries and regions all over the world were consulted and all data about myriapods (Myriapoda) ever assessed in Red Lists at any level assembled. Myriapod species assessments were found in eleven regional Red Lists; however, no overlap between the species included in the global IUCN Red List and the regional ones was established. This means that myriapod species considered threatened at regional level may not be eligible for international funding specific for protection of native threatened species (more than US$ 25 million were available in the last decade) as most financial instruments tend to support only threatened species included in the IUCN Red List. As the lack of financial resources may limit protection for species in risk of extinction, it is urgent to increase the possibilities of getting financial support for implementation of measures for their protection. A Red List of all Myriapoda species recorded in Red Lists at national or local (596) and global (210) scales totaling 806 species is presented. This list shows for the first time an overview of the current conservation status of Myriapoda species. Here, the urgent need of establishing a Myriapoda Specialist Group in the Species Survival Commission of IUCN is also stressed.

10aArthropoda10aChilopoda10aDiplopoda10aextinction10anational red lists10aPauropoda10arisk assessment10aSymphyla10athreatened species1 aKaram-Gemael, Manoela1 aDecker, Peter1 aStoev, Pavel1 aMarques, Marinez, I.1 aJr, Amazonas, C uhttps://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/48943/00670nas a2200133 4500008004100000245006300041210006200104260001200166300001000178490000600188520027500194100001600469856005100485 1837 eng d00aÉtudes pour servir à l'histoire naturelle des Myriapodes0 aÉtudes pour servir à lhistoire naturelle des Myriapodes c01/1837 a35-600 v73 a

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

1 aGervais, P. uhttps://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/2883600420nas a2200145 4500008004100000245005200041210004700093260001200140300001200152490000600164520001300170653000900183100002800192856005400220 1829 eng d00aNotes on the genus Capromys of Desmarest0 aNotes on the genus iCapromysi of Desmarest c01/1829 a269-2780 v43 a
10aCuba1 aMacLeay, William, Sharp uhttps://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2748518500425nas a2200121 4500008004100000245008900041210006900130260001200199300001200211490000700223100001900230856005400249 1888 eng d00aA Monograph on the Species and Distribution of the Genus Peripatus (Guilding)0 aMonograph on the Species and Distribution of the Genus iPeripatu c04/1888 a431-4930 v281 aSedgwick, Adam uhttps://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1382708100378nas a2200133 4500008004100000245004500041210004000086260001500126300001200141490000700153520001300160100001800173856005300191 1895 eng d00aDescription of Peripatus oviparus0 aDescription of iPeripatus oviparusi c09/09/1895 a195-2000 v103 a
1 aDendy, Arthur uhttps://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/636804200474nas a2200133 4500008004100000245010900041210006900150260001500219300001200234490000700246520001300253100002100266856005300287 1895 eng d00aOn the specific identity of the Australian Peripatus usually supposed to be P. leuckarti, Saenger0 aspecific identity of the Australian Peripatus usually supposed t c09/09/1895 a172-1940 v103 a
1 aFletcher, J., J. uhttps://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/636801902025nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001400041245017900055210006900234260001500303300001400318490000700332520127800339653001701617653001301634653002401647100001601671700003101687700002101718700002101739856004701760 2018 eng d a1445-522600aCryptic speciation in a biodiversity hotspot: multilocus molecular data reveal new velvet worm species from Western Australia (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae: Kumbadjena)0 aCryptic speciation in a biodiversity hotspot multilocus molecula c27/11/2018 a1249-12640 v323 a

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.

10aconservation10aendemism10amolecular diagnosis1 aSato, Shoyo1 aBuckman-Young, Rebecca, S.1 aHarvey, Mark, S.1 aGiribet, Gonzalo uhttp://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=IS1802400419nas a2200121 4500008004100000245007000041210005900111260004300170300000900213490000600222100001900228856005000247 1898 eng d00aThe anatomy and development of Peripatus novae-britanniae 0 aanatomy and development of iPeripatus novaebritanniaei aCambridge [England]bUniversity Press, a1-520 v11 aWilley, Arthur uhttps://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4305759003122nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245013700055210006900192260001500261300001200276490000700288520233000295653002902625653001302654653002802667653001802695653002002713100003702733700002802770700002602798856006802824 2020 eng d a0034-774400aA new giant velvet worm from Costa Rica suggests absence of the genus Peripatus (Onychophora: Peripatidae) in Central America0 anew giant velvet worm from Costa Rica suggests absence of the ge c03/02/2020 a300-3200 v683 a

Introduction: Neotropical onychophoran taxonomy and diversity has been poorly investigated. Recent studies have discovered problems in species classification: they have questioned the accepted genera and the actual number of species. This is true in Costa Rica, where several unidentified species have been reported. Objective: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the occurrence of the accepted genera in this country, and to describe a new genus and species from Central America. Methods: In 2017, we collected one onychophoran in the Keköldi Indigenous Reserve in Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica. The specimen gave birth to several offspring. Therefore, seven organisms were analyzed. Light microscopy was used to observe the gross morphology in all samples. The detailed morphology was studied in the biggest specimen with scanning electron microscopy; after that, we performed a phylogenetic analysis with the corresponding sequence of COI. Results: According to our results, a new genus and species of giant onychophoran was found. The genus was identified by its giant size, apical piece of seven scale ranks, large conical primary papillae, dorso-median furrow flanked by two-three accessory papillae, the absence of hyaline organs and a marked sexual dimorphism with respect to the number of legs. The new species presents a particular head pattern, as well as novel structures like cephalic papillae, accessory papillae with rudimentary apical pieces, and a lack of antennal chemoreceptors. Phylogenetic analysis rendered our genus as monophyletic and includes Peripatus solorzanoi, which is grouped within the Central American clade. As our species is clustered inside the Costa Rica-Panamanian group, it is not related to the Caribbean Island nor Guyanan Shield samples, home of Epiperipatus and Peripatus respectively. Therefore, we suggest that those genera do not occur in Central America, and a new genus exists: Mongeperipatus, gen. nov. Conclusion: We concluded that Costa Rica is home to a diversity of undescribed onychophorans that requires specific studies to help clarify the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of the group to justify their protection.

10aCosta Rican biodiversity10aendemism10aonychophoran speciation10aPhylogenetics10asaproxilic taxa1 aBarquero-González, José, Pablo1 aSánchez-Vargas, Steven1 aMorera-Brenes, Bernal uhttps://www.revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/37675