Myriapoda at "Reserva Ducke", Central Amazonia/Brazil

Myriapoda contains the four recent classes Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Pauropoda and Symphyla. In total, 159 families, 2166 genera and >15162 species are known world-wide. Twenty-nine families, >93 genera and >401 described species occur in Amazonia. One-fifth of the families presently known in the myriapods are represented in Amazonia. About 3% of all described species live, and at least 9% of the species estimated to exist world-wide in Myriapoda are assumed to live in Amazonia. From the forest reserve 'Reserva Ducke' near Manaus, 22 families, 38 genera and 73 described species are known at present. The Chilopoda represent 5 families, 9 genera, 23 species and one undescribed morphospecies, the Diplopoda 13 families, 18 described genera, 14 species and 19 undescribed morphospecies, the Pauropoda 2 families, 7 genera, 31 species, and the Sympyla 2 families, 4 genera and 5 species. All names are liste

Molecular phylogeny of the Achatinoidea (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

This study presents a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of the Achatinoidea and provides an initial basis for a taxonomic re-evaluation of family level groups within the superfamily. A total of 5028 nucleotides from the nuclear rRNA, actin and histone 3 genes and the 1st and 2nd codon positions of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene were sequenced from 24 species, representing six currently recognised families. Results from maximum likelihood, neighbour joining, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference trees revealed that, of currently recognised families, only the Achatinidae are monophyletic. For the Ferussaciidae, Ferussacia folliculus fell separately to Cecilioides gokweanus and formed a sister taxon to the rest of the Achatinoidea. For the Coeliaxidae, Coeliaxis blandii and Pyrgina umbilicata did not group together. The Subulinidae was not resolved, with some subulinids clustering with the Coeliaxidae and Thyrophorellidae. Three subfamilies currently included within the Subulinidae based on current taxonomy likewise did not form monophyletic groups

Myriapoda at 'Reserva Ducke', Central Amazonia/Brazil

Myriapoda contains the four recent classes Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Pauropoda and Symphyla. In total, 159 families, 2166 genera and >15162 species are known world-wide Twenty-nine families, >93 genera and >401 described species occur in Amazonia. One-fifth of the families presently known in the myriapods are represented in Amazonia. About 3% of all described species live, and at least 9% of the species estimated to exist world-wide in Myriapoda are assumed to live in Amazonia. From the forest reserve ‘Reserva Ducke' near Manaus, 22 families, 38 genera and 73 described species are known at present. The Chilopoda represent 5 families, 9 genera. 23 species and one undcscribcd morphospecies, the Diplopoda 13 families, 18 described genera. 14 species and 19 undescribed morphospecies, the Pauropoda 2 families, 7 genera. 31 species, and the Svmpyla 2 families, 4 genera and 5 species. All names are listed.Myriapoda contém as quatro recentes classes Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Pauropoda c Symphyla. No total, 159 familias, 2166 géneros e >15162 espécies säo conhecidas mundialmente. Vinte e nove familias, >93 géneros e >401 espécies descritas ocorrem na Amazonia. Um quinto das familias miriápodes conhecidas atualmentc é representada na Amazonia. Cerca de 3% de todas as espécies em Myriapoda descritas vivem na Amazonia, e no mínimo 9% das especies estimadas de existirem mundialmcnte acredita-se viverem na Amazonia. Da reserva florestal ’Reserva Ducke’ perto de Manaus existem atualmentc 22 familias, 38 géneros e 73 especies descritas. Os Chilopoda representam 5 familias, 9 géneros, 23 espécies descritas e 1 morfoespécie nao-descrita, os Diplopoda 13 familias, 18 géneros descritos, 14 espécies e 19 morfocspecies nao-descritas, os Pauropoda 2 familias, 7 géneros, 31 espécies, e os Sympyla 2 familias, 4 géneros e 5 espécies lodos os nomes estäo alistados.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Evidence of introgressive hybridization between the morphologically divergent land snails Ainohelix and Ezohelix

Hybridization between different taxa is likely to take place when adaptive morphological differences evolve more rapidly than reproductive isolation. When studying the phylogenetic relationship between two land snails of different nominal genera, Ainohelix editha and Ezohelix gainesi, from Hokkaido, Japan, using nuclear internal transcribed spacer and mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA, we found a marked incongruence in the topology between nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenies. Furthermore, no clear association was found between shell morphology (which defines the taxonomy) and nuclear or mitochondrial trees and morphology of reproductive system. These patterns are most likely explained by historical introgressive hybridization between A. editha and E. gainesi. Because the shell morphologies of the two species are quite distinct, even when they coexist, the implication is that natural selection is able to maintain (or has recreated) distinct morphologies in the face of gene flow. Future studies may be able to reveal the regions of the genome that maintain the morphological differences between these species

Figure 9: Aspects of ultimate legs during courtship behavior.

The arthropodium is the key innovation of arthropods. Its various modifications are the outcome of multiple evolutionary transformations, and the foundation of nearly endless functional possibilities. In contrast to hexapods, crustaceans, and even chelicerates, the spectrum of evolutionary transformations of myriapod arthropodia is insufficiently documented and rarely scrutinized. Among Myriapoda, Chilopoda (centipedes) are characterized by their venomous forcipules—evolutionarily transformed walking legs of the first trunk segment. In addition, the posterior end of the centipedes’ body, in particular the ultimate legs, exhibits a remarkable morphological heterogeneity. Not participating in locomotion, they hold a vast functional diversity. In many centipede species, elongation and annulation in combination with an augmentation of sensory structures indicates a functional shift towards a sensory appendage. In other species, thickening, widening and reinforcement with a multitude of cuticular protuberances and glandular systems suggests a role in both attack and defense. Moreover, sexual dimorphic characteristics indicate that centipede ultimate legs play a pivotal role in intraspecific communication, mate finding and courtship behavior. We address ambiguous identifications and designations of podomeres in order to point out controversial aspects of homology and homonymy. We provide a broad summary of descriptions, illustrations, ideas and observations published in past 160 years, and propose that studying centipede ultimate legs is not only essential in itself for filling gaps of knowledge in descriptive morphology, but also provides an opportunity to explore diverse pathways of leg transformations within Myriapoda

A silicified Early Triassic marine assemblage from Svalbard

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Scolopendra Linnaeus 1758

Genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 Type-species. Scolopendra morsitans Linnaeus, 1758. Range. All tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions.Published as part of Schileyko, Arkady A., 2014, A contribution to the centipede fauna of Venezuela (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha), pp. 151-192 in Zootaxa 3821 (1) on page 174, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3821.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/25219

Newportia

Newportia sp. Figs 42–44 Material. Federal State [=Capital District], [loc. 15], N 39, M. Avila, m 950, suolo, Bds, 1 juv, 24.12. 1985, N 7238. 1 specimen in all. Description of juvenile N 7238. Length of body ca 12 mm. Color in ethanol: entire animal uniformly lightyellow (almost white). Body with very sparse minute setae; tergite 23, distal articles of legs and ultimate legs more setose. Antennae composed of 17 articles, nearly reaching posterior margin of tergite 3 when reflexed (Fig. 42). 4 basal articles with few long setae, subsequent articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical. Cephalic plate (Fig. 42) clearly longer than wide, with the posterior corners rounded and without paramedian sutures. Second maxillae: article 2 of telopodite distally with a well-developed dorsal spur. Pretarsus without accessory spines. Forcipular segment (Fig. 43): coxosternite without any visible sutures but short chitin-lines. Anterior margin of coxosternite practically straight. Trochanteroprefemur without any process; tarsungula normal. Tergites: anterior margin of tergite 1 covered by the cephalic plate (Fig. 42). Tergite 1 with anterior transverse suture, paramedian sutures absent. Tergites 2–22 with complete paramedian sutures, tergites 3–20 with lateral longitudinal sutures. Tergite 23 without sutures, wider than long and somewhat narrowed posteriorly; its sides curved. Only tergite 23 has distinct margination. Sternites: practically rectangular, their sides somewhat curved. Sternites 2 (3)– 20 (21) with shallow median sulcus, sternites 2–20 (21) with lateral sutures. Ultimate sternite wider than long, strongly narrowed towards the practically straight posterior margin. Endosternites not recognizable. Legs: basal articles with a few short setae, distal ones more setose. Legs 1–21 with lateral tibial spur, tarsal spurs absent; pretarsi with two minute accessory spines which are hardly visible at x 56. Tarsi of legs 1–21 undivided (Fig. 44). Coxopleuron (excluding coxopleural process) nearly twice as long as sternite 23, with 20–25 large coxal pores. Conical coxopleural process poreless, bearing few long large setae; coxopleural surface without setae. Posterior margin of ultimate pleuron forming an obtuse angle (or nearly rectangular). Ultimate legs (Fig. 44) slender (width of prefemur ca 0.2 mm), ca 4 mm long. Femur and tibia cylindrical in cross-section. Prefemur with row of 4 apically curved ventral spinous processes. On the right prefemur these processes are of approximately the same size; the distal process isolated from the others. On the left prefemur the 3 rd spine is rudimentary. Femur medially with 1 small spinous processes on the basal third. Tibia practically as long as prefemur and femur. Tarsus not definitely divided into tarsus 1 and tarsus 2 legs (Fig. 44) the latter without distinct articles. Tarsus approximately as long as prefemur, femur and tibia together. Range. Venezuela, Capital District, El Ávila National Park, Pico El Ávila. Remarks. Because of the small size, very light color and soft integument this specimen is a juvenile. The small number of coxopleural pores and their large size are definitely juvenile conditions. It seems to be very close to N. lasia Chamberlin, 1921, which is known from British Guyana (Dunoon), Brazil (Amazônas) and Paraguay (St. Luis) (Schileyko & Minelli, 1998). In general it resembles N. lasia but differs from it in having the prefemur of ultimate legs with 4 ventral spinous processes (vs. 6 in lasia) and femur with 1 ventro-medial spine (vs. 2 in lasia). However, in this single juvenile specimen the configuration of the spinous processes of its left and right prefemora differ. Taking into consideration all these facts, I prefer to retain this specimen as Newportia sp. until more material from this locality is available.Published as part of Schileyko, Arkady A., 2014, A contribution to the centipede fauna of Venezuela (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha), pp. 151-192 in Zootaxa 3821 (1) on pages 173-174, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3821.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/25219