Hawaiioscia rapui

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Hawaiioscia rapui
Hawaiioscia rapui female paratype.jpg
Female paratype
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder: Peracarida
Order: Isopoda
Suborder: Oniscidea
Family: Philosciidae
Genus: Hawaiioscia
Species:
H. rapui
Binomial name
Hawaiioscia rapui
Taiti & Wynne, 2015

Hawaiioscia rapui is a species of terrestrial isopod endemic to the islands of Rapa Nui [1] and Motu Motiro Hiva [2] in the South Pacific Ocean. The animal's current range is collectively known as the Rapa Nui Marine Protected Area. The epithet, "rapui", honors Sergio Rapu Haoa [3] , a humanitarian, archaeologist, anthropologist, and politician of Rapanui descent. This species was initially considered a relict species known only to Rapa Nui caves. Specimens collected in 2016 revealed it also occurs in littoral habitats on the north shore of Rapa Nui and on Motu Motiro Hiva, a small uninhabited island 414 km east by northeast of Rapa Nui [2] . Given the range extension into littoral areas, this isopod is considered a halophilic species. Although determining how this animal dispersed between Rapa Nui and Motu Mitiro Hiva will require additional research, it is tentatively considered a "Canoe Bug". This name is derived from the Canoe Bug Hypothesis [4] which holds this species colonized these islands alongside ancient Polynesians via transplanted "Canoe Plants" [5] such as banana, taro, and breadfruit. Styloniscus manuvaka, another "Canoe Bug", is the only other native isopod species known to Rapa Nui. [1]

On Rapa Nui, Hawaiioscia rapui faces threats such as further habitat loss, non-native species competition, and global climate change [1] . Presently, the Motu Motiro Hiva population may be somewhat buffered from completion with non-native species, but monitoring and continued study will be required for the early detection of non-native competitor species [2] .

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Taiti, Stefano; Wynne, J. Judson (2015). "The terrestrial Isopoda (Crustacea, Oniscidea) of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), with descriptions of two new species". ZooKeys (515): 27–49. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.515.9477 . ISSN   1313-2989. PMC   4525033 . PMID   26261438.
  2. 1 2 3 Wynne, J. Judson; Taiti, Stefano; Yancovic Pakarati, Sebastian; Castillo-Trujillo, Alma Carolina (2022). "Range extension of the endemic terrestrial isopod Hawaiioscia rapui reveals the dispersal potential of the genus across the South Pacific" (PDF). Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 147: 1–12.
  3. "Portraits of Peacemakers: Easter Islander Sergio Rapu". newsarchive.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  4. Wynne, J. Judson; et, al (2014). "Disturbance Relicts in a Rapidly Changing World: The Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Factor". BioScience. 64: 711–718. doi:10.1093/biosci/biu090.
  5. Whistler, W. Arthur (2009). Plants of the Canoe People: An Ethnobotanical Voyage through Polynesia. Hawaii: National Tropical Botanical Garden. ISBN   9780915809004.