Mairata

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Mairata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Geophilidae
Subfamily: Aphilodontinae
Genus: Mairata
Calvanese, Brescovit & Bonato, 2019
Type species
Mairata butantan
Calvanese, Brescovit & Bonato, 2019
Species

Mairata is a genus of soil centipedes in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae [1] but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. [2] [3] This genus contains only two species: M. itatiaiensis and the type species M. butantan . [3] Both species are found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. [2]

Contents

Discovery

This genus and its two species were first described in 2019 by the biologists Victor C. Calvanese, Antonio D. Brescovit, and Lucio Bonato. The original description of M. butantan is based on eleven specimens (six females and five males), including a female holotype and four paratypes (two females and two males). These specimens were collected from two localities in the state of São Paulo in Brazil: São Roque, where the type specimens were found, and Cotia. The original description of M. itatiaiensis is based on eleven specimens (seven females and four males), including a female holotype and four paratypes (two females and two males), all collected from Itatiaia National Park, in Itatiai in the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The specimens of both species were found below or near roots and rocks in the first layer of soil at humid sites. The type specimens for both species are deposited in the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil. [2]

Etymology

The genus Mairata is named for a mythological entity of the ancient Tupi-Guarani indigenous people of Brazil. The species M. butantan is named for the Butantan Institute in recognition of its promotion of biological research. The species M. itatiaiensis is named for its type locality. [2]

Description

The lateral parts of the labrum in this genus are thin membranes. [2] The distal element of the second maxillae features three articles, with the third article reduced in size: [4] The base of the third article is less than half as wide as the base of the second article. The short sclerite in front of the forcipular tergite is much shorter than wide and shorter than one-third the length of the head. The sternites of both the forcipular segment and the first leg-bearing segment are wider than long. [2] [5]

Each of the ultimate legs of both males and females in this genus features only six rather than seven articles, with only one tarsal article rather than two, [6] and with neither a terminal spine nor a claw at the distal end. [2] The ultimate leg is swollen in the male, with the third, fourth, and fifth articles wider than long, and the ultimate (tarsal) article shaped like a globe. The ultimate leg in the female is more slender, but the tarsal article is distinctly wider at the distal end. [2] [6]

Whereas adults of the species M. butantan range from 18 mm to 23 mm in length, the adults of the species M. itatiaiensis are generally larger, ranging from 22 mm to 41 mm in length. Furthermore, the species M. itatiaiensis features more pairs of legs, with 63 in the female and 61 in the male. The species M. butantan features fewer leg pairs, with 59 in the female and 57 in the male. [2]

These two species can also be distinguished based on features of the ultimate legs. For example, in females of the species M. butantan, these legs are as slender as the penultimate legs, but in females of the species M. itatiaiensis, these legs are thicker than the penultimate legs. Furthermore, the basal element of each of the ultimate legs features 10 to 20 pores in adults of the species M. itatiaiensis but only two to eight pores in adults of the species M. butantan. [2]

Phylogeny

A phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Aphilodontinae based on morphology places the genus Mairata in a clade with the genus Aphilodon, which emerges as the most closely related genus in a phylogenetic tree. [2] While the genus Mairata exhibits many traits shared by others in this subfamily, such as forcipules with only three articles and sternites without ventral pores, [4] this genus shares a more extensive set of traits with the genus Aphilodon. For example, in both Mairata and Aphilodon, the ultimate legs in both sexes each feature only six articles (with only one tarsal article) and no terminal claw. [6] [2] Furthermore, in both Mairata and Aphilodon, the sclerite in front of the forcipular tergite is shorter than one-third the length of the head, and the sternites of both the forcipular segment and the first leg-bearing segment are wider than long. [2]

Centipedes in the genus Mairata can be distinguished from those in the genus Aphilodon, however, based on other traits. For example, the ultimate article of the second maxillae is reduced in size in Mairata but not in Aphilodon. These two genera can also be distinguished based on features of the ultimate legs. For example, the ultimate legs end in a small terminal spine in each sex in Aphilodon, but this spine is absent in each sex in Mairata. Furthermore, the ultimate legs of the male in Aphilodon are only moderately thickened, whereas the ultimate legs of the male in Mairata are strikingly swollen, with the third, fourth, and fifth articles wider than long, and the tarsal article globose. Moreover, the tarsal article of the ultimate legs of the female broadens towards the tip in Mairata but not in Aphilodon. [2] [4]

Related Research Articles

Nannarrup is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae; this genus includes a single species, Nannarrup hoffmani, also known as Hoffman's dwarf centipede. This centipede was discovered in Central Park in New York City and was the first new species to be discovered in that park in more than a century. This species is the smallest species in the family Mecistocephalidae, reaching only 10.3 mm in length, and has only 41 pairs of legs, the minimum number recorded in this family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geophilidae</span> Family of centipedes

Geophilidae is a family of soil centipedes in the superfamily Geophiloidea and the order Geophilomorpha. In 2014, a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological and molecular data found this family to be polyphyletic. To avoid this polyphyly, authorities dismissed the families Aphilodontidae, Dignathodontidae, Linotaeniidae, and Macronicophilidae, which are now deemed to be junior synonyms for Geophilidae. Authorities also moved some genera from Geophilidae to form the family Zelanophildae in order to avoid the polyphyly of the family Geophilidae. The family Geophilidae now includes more than 650 species in more than 120 genera. This family has a cosmopolitan distribution, with species found almost worldwide.

<i>Geophilus hadesi</i> Species of centipede

Geophilus hadesi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is a troglobite, spending its entire life cycle in a cave environment. This species and Geophilus persephones are the only two troglobites known in the order Geophilomorpha. The species G. hadesi is named after Hades, god of the underworld in Greek mythology and the husband of Persephone, the namesake of the first troglobite discovered among the soil centipedes. The species G. hadesi has been observed in a cave as far as 1,100 meters below the surface, the deepest underground that any centipede has ever been recorded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aphilodontidae</span> Family of centipedes

Aphilodontidae is a monophyletic clade of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae found in South America and South Africa. These centipedes are closely related to Geoperingueyia and characterized by shieldlike setae on the front of the head, lateral parts of the flattened cuticle above the mouthparts, and combined forcipular trochanteroprefemur and femur. The number of legs in this clade varies within species as well as among species and ranges from as few as 33 pairs of legs to as many as 93 pairs. The three species in the Brazilian genus Mecophilus have the fewest legs and smallest size in this clade. The two species with the fewest legs in the Neotropical genus Aphilodon also feature notably modest numbers: A. meganae and A. indespectus. A. meganae is also notable for its small size, the smallest in its genus. Species with more legs also exhibit greater variation in the number of leg pairs. The largest species in this clade can reach 70 mm in length.

Geophilus arenarius is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in Algeria. As part of the carpophagus species-complex, this species is closely related to both G. carpophagus and G. easoni.

Dinogeophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Schendylidae. This genus contains only two species, Dinogeophilus pauropus and D. oligopodus, which range from 4.5 to 5.5 mm in length. These species are notable as the smallest not only in the order Geophilomorpha but also in any epimorphic order of centipedes. The species D. oligopodus is also notable as one of only six species of soil centipedes to feature only 29 pairs of legs and one of only two species to include females with only 29 pairs, the minimum number recorded for females in the order Geophilomorpha.

Schendyla antici is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This species is notable as one of only six species in the order Geophilomorpha to feature centipedes with only 29 pairs of legs, which is also the minimum number recorded in the genus Schendyla. No other species in this genus features so few legs.

Mecophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. The species in this genus are among the smallest centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha, reaching only 8 mm in length. This genus is also notable for featuring the fewest legs in the subfamily Aphilodontinae. The species in this genus are found in the Atlantic Forest in south and southeastern Brazil.

Geophilus oligopus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in several European countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovenia, and Romania. Although this centipede has been described as having an Alpine-Dinaric distribution, this species has also been found in the Carpathian mountains and may be more widespread than previously thought.

Dinogeophilus oligopodus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 mm in length, the smallest size recorded not only in the order Geophilomorpha but also in any epimorphic order of centipedes. This species is also notable as one of only six species in the order Geophilomorpha to feature only 29 pairs of legs and one of only two species to include females with only 29 pairs, the minimum number recorded for females in this order.

Mecophilus tupiniquim is a species of soil centipede in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. This centipede is notable for its small size and modest number of legs. This species is found in Brazil.

Escaryus is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Schendylidae. These centipedes are notable as schendylids adapted to colder temperatures and restricted to cool climates and high latitudes. With more than 30 species, this genus is easily the largest group of such centipedes in the family Schendylidae. Most schendylids are limited to tropical or subtropical regions.

Alloschizotaenia bipora is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This species was first described in 1952 by the Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems.

Arctogeophilus inopinatus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophildae. This centipede is found in western and central France and may also be present in Luxembourg. This species is small, measuring only 18 mm in length, and can have either 39 or 41 pairs of legs.

Mesoschendyla cribrifera is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found in South Africa. This species features 55 pairs of legs in each sex and measures 34 mm in length.

Mecistocephalus japonicus is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is notable for featuring 63 or 65 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus. This centipede is one of only a few species in the genus Mecistocephalus or in the family Mecistocephalidae with more than 55 leg pairs. This centipede is also one of only a few species in this family to exhibit any variation in leg number among specimens. This species is found from the island of Honshu in Japan to Taiwan.

Mecistocephalus smithii is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is notable for featuring 59 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus. This centipede is one of only a few species in the genus Mecistocephalus or in the family Mecistocephalidae with more than 55 leg pairs. This centipede is also notable as the first Mecistocephalus species discovered in China.

Mairata itatiaiensis is a species of soil centipede in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. This centipede can reach 41 mm in length and can have either 61 or 63 pairs of legs. This species is found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.

Aphilodon is a genus of soil centipedes in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. These centipedes are found in South America. This genus includes sixteen species and is the most diverse of the Neotropical genera in the subfamily Aphilodontinae.

Aphilodon bahianus is a species of soil centipede in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. This centipede can reach 21 mm in length and can have either 63 or 65 pairs of legs. This species is found in Brazil.

References

  1. ↑ Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory D.; Zapparoli, Marzio (2011). "Chilopoda – Taxonomic overview". In Minelli, Alessandro (ed.). The Myriapoda. Volume 1. Leiden: Brill. pp. 363–443 [407-408]. ISBN   978-90-04-18826-6. OCLC   812207443.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Calvanese, Victor C.; Brescovit, Antonio D.; Bonato, Lucio (2019-11-15). "Revision of the Neotropical species of Aphilodontinae (Geophilomorpha, Geophilidae), with eight new species and a first phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily". Zootaxa. 4698 (1): 1–72 [4–5, 9–10, 20–21, 41–46, 54–55, 57–58, 69–70]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4698.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334.
  3. 1 2 Bonato, L.; Chagas Junior, A.; Edgecombe, G.D.; Lewis, J.G.E.; Minelli, A.; Pereira, L.A.; Shelley, R.M.; Stoev, P.; Zapparoli, M. (2016). "Mairata Calvanese, Brescovit, Bonato, 2019". ChiloBase 2.0 - A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  4. 1 2 3 Calvanese, Victor C.; Brescovit, Antonio D. (7 March 2022). "Six new species of Aphilodon centipedes (Geophilidae: Aphilodontinae) from Brazil". Zootaxa. 5105 (4): 539–558 [539, 543]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5105.4.4. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   35391288.
  5. ↑ Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory; Lewis, John; Minelli, Alessandro; Pereira, Luis; Shelley, Rowland; Zapparoli, Marzio (2010-11-18). "A common terminology for the external anatomy of centipedes (Chilopoda)". ZooKeys (69): 17–51. Bibcode:2010ZooK...69...17B. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.69.737 . ISSN   1313-2970. PMC   3088443 . PMID   21594038.
  6. 1 2 3 Calvanese, Victor C.; Brescovit, Antonio D. (2022-01-18). "A new species of Mecophilus (Geophilidae: Aphilodontinae), with the first report of the genus from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil". Zootaxa. 5092 (1): 134–142 [142]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5092.1.8. ISSN   1175-5334.
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