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Oliveira IDS. An updated world checklist of velvet worms (Onychophora) with notes on nomenclature and status of names. Zookeys 2023; 1184:133-260. [PMID: 38023768 PMCID: PMC10680090 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1184.107286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo de Sena Oliveira
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Straße 40, D-34132, Kassel, GermanyUniversity of KasselKasselGermany
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisBelo HorizonteBrazil
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2
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Jahn H, Hammel JU, Göpel T, Wirkner CS, Mayer G. A multiscale approach reveals elaborate circulatory system and intermittent heartbeat in velvet worms (Onychophora). Commun Biol 2023; 6:468. [PMID: 37117786 PMCID: PMC10147947 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04797-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
An antagonistic hemolymph-muscular system is essential for soft-bodied invertebrates. Many ecdysozoans (molting animals) possess neither a heart nor a vascular or circulatory system, whereas most arthropods exhibit a well-developed circulatory system. How did this system evolve and how was it subsequently modified in panarthropod lineages? As the closest relatives of arthropods and tardigrades, onychophorans (velvet worms) represent a key group for addressing this question. We therefore analyzed the entire circulatory system of the peripatopsid Euperipatoides rowelli and discovered a surprisingly elaborate organization. Our findings suggest that the last common ancestor of Onychophora and Arthropoda most likely possessed an open vascular system, a posteriorly closed heart with segmental ostia, a pericardial sinus filled with nephrocytes and an impermeable pericardial septum, whereas the evolutionary origin of plical and pericardial channels is unclear. Our study further revealed an intermittent heartbeat-regular breaks of rhythmic, peristaltic contractions of the heart-in velvet worms, which might stimulate similar investigations in arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Jahn
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Straße 40, D-34132, Kassel, Germany.
| | - Jörg U Hammel
- Institute of Materials Physics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon at DESY, Notkestraße 85, D-22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Torben Göpel
- Multiscale Biology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
| | - Christian S Wirkner
- Institut für Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie, Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Rostock, Universitätsplatz 2, D-18055, Rostock, Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Straße 40, D-34132, Kassel, Germany
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Baker CM, Buckman-Young RS, Costa CS, Giribet G. Phylogenomic Analysis of Velvet Worms (Onychophora) Uncovers an Evolutionary Radiation in the Neotropics. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:5391-5404. [PMID: 34427671 PMCID: PMC8662635 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Baker
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca S Buckman-Young
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cristiano S Costa
- Laboratório de Sistemática e Taxonomia de Artrópodes Terrestres, Departamento de Biologia e Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Beutel RG, Friedrich F, Economo EP. Patterns of morphological simplification and innovation in the megadiverse Holometabola (Insecta). Cladistics 2021; 38:227-245. [DOI: 10.1111/cla.12483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Georg Beutel
- Entomology Group Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung Friedrich‐Schiller‐Universität Jena Erbertstrasse 1 Jena D‐07743 Germany
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919‐1 Tancha, Onna‐son Kunigami‐gun Okinawa 904‐0495 Japan
| | - Frank Friedrich
- Institut für Zoologie Universität Hamburg Martin‐Luther‐King‐Platz 3 Hamburg D‐20146 Germany
| | - Evan P. Economo
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919‐1 Tancha, Onna‐son Kunigami‐gun Okinawa 904‐0495 Japan
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Janssen R, Budd GE. Oscillating waves of Fox, Cyclin and CDK gene expression indicate unique spatiotemporal control of cell cycling during nervous system development in onychophorans. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2021; 62:101042. [PMID: 33752095 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2021.101042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Forkhead box (Fox) genes code for a class of transcription factors with many different fundamental functions in animal development including cell cycle control. Other important factors of cell cycle control are Cyclins and Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Here we report on the oscillating expression of three Fox genes, FoxM, FoxN14 (jumeaux) and FoxN23 (Checkpoint suppressor like-1), Cyclins and CDKs in an onychophoran, a representative of a relatively small group of animals that are closely related to the arthropods. Expression of these genes is in the form of several waves that start as dot-like domains in the center of each segment and then transform into concentric rings that run towards the periphery of the segments. This oscillating gene expression, however, occurs exclusively along the anterior-posterior body axis in the tissue ventral to the base of the appendages, a region where the central nervous system and the enigmatic ventral and preventral organs of the onychophoran develop. We suggest that the oscillating gene expression and the resulting waves of expression we report are likely correlated with cell cycle control during the development of the onychophoran nervous system. This intriguing patterning appears to be unique for onychophorans as it is not found in any of the arthropods we also investigated in this study, and is likely correlated with the slow embryonic development of onychophorans compared to arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Janssen
- Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Villavägen 16, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Graham E Budd
- Uppsala University, Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Villavägen 16, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
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Costa CS, Giribet FLS G, Pinto-Da-Rocha R. Morphological and molecular phylogeny of Epiperipatus (Onychophora: Peripatidae): a combined approach. Zool J Linn Soc 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
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-Nájera, 2010) and Epiperipatus sucuriuensis (Oliveira et al., 2015).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano S Costa
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, nº 321, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP, Brazil
| | - Gonzalo Giribet FLS
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ricardo Pinto-Da-Rocha
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, nº 321, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP, Brazil
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The Highest Chromosome Number and First Chromosome Fluorescent in situ Hybridization in the velvet worms of the family Peripatidae. Zool Stud 2020; 59:e5. [PMID: 32346453 DOI: 10.6620/zs.2020.59-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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.
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Marshall JC, Martin H. Velvet worm (Phylum Onychophora) on a sand island, in a wetland: Flushed from a Pleistocene refuge by recent rainfall? AUSTRAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan C. Marshall
- Department of Environment and Science; Queensland Government; GPO Box 2454 Brisbane Queensland 4001 Australia
- Australian Rivers Institute; Griffith University; Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Hailey Martin
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
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Treffkorn S, Hernández-Lagos OY, Mayer G. Evidence for cell turnover as the mechanism responsible for the transport of embryos towards the vagina in viviparous onychophorans (velvet worms). Front Zool 2019; 16:16. [PMID: 31182967 PMCID: PMC6555992 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-019-0317-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Onychophorans, commonly known as velvet worms, display a remarkable diversity of reproductive strategies including oviparity, and placentotrophic, lecithotrophic, matrotrophic or combined lecithotrophic/matrotrophic viviparity. In the placentotrophic species, the embryos of consecutive developmental stages are attached to the uterus via a placental stalk, suggesting they might be transported passively towards the vagina due to proximal growth and distal degeneration of tissue. However, this assumption has never been tested using specific markers. We therefore analyzed the patterns of cell proliferation and apoptosis in the genital tracts of two placentotrophic peripatids from Colombia and a non-placentotrophic peripatopsid from Australia. Results All three species show a high number of apoptotic cells in the distal portion of the genital tract near the genital opening. In the two placentotrophic species, additional apoptotic cells appear in ring-like vestigial placentation zones of late embryonic chambers. While moderate cell proliferation occurs along the entire uterus in all three species, only the two placentotrophic species show a distinct proliferation zone near the ovary as well as in the ring-like implantation zone of the first embryonic chamber. In contrast to the two placentotrophic species, the non-placentotrophic species clearly does not show such regions of high proliferation in the uterus but exhibits proliferating and apoptotic cells in the ovarian stalks. While cell proliferation mainly occurs in stalks carrying maturating oocytes, apoptosis is restricted to stalks whose oocytes have been released into the ovarian lumen. Conclusions Our results confirm the hypothesis that the uterus of placentotrophic onychophorans grows proximally but is resorbed distally. This is supported by the detection of a proximal proliferation zone and a distal degenerative zone in the two placentotrophic species. Hence, cell turnover might be responsible for the transport of their embryos towards the vagina, analogous to a conveyor belt. Surprisingly, the distal degenerative zone is also found in the non-placentotrophic species, in which cell turnover was unexpected. These findings suggest that the distal degenerative zone is an ancestral feature of Onychophora, whereas the proximal proliferation zone might have evolved in the last common ancestor of the placentotrophic Peripatidae. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12983-019-0317-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Treffkorn
- 1Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, D-34132 Kassel, Germany
| | - Oscar Yesid Hernández-Lagos
- 2Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Escuela de Biología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Carrera 27 #9, ciudad Universitaria, Bucaramanga, Santander Colombia
| | - Georg Mayer
- 1Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, D-34132 Kassel, Germany
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Costa CS, Chagas-Junior A, Pinto-da-Rocha R. Redescription of Epiperipatus edwardsii, and descriptions of five new species of Epiperipatus from Brazil (Onychophora: Peripatidae). ZOOLOGIA 2018. [DOI: 10.3897/zoologia.35.e23366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Epiperipatusedwardsii(Blanchard, 1847) is redescribed based on fresh material collected near the type locality. Additionally, five new species of velvet worms of the genusEpiperipatusClark, 1913 from Brazil are described:Epiperipatushyperbolicussp. nov.,Epiperipatuslucernasp. nov.,Epiperipatustitanicussp. nov. (Holotypes deposited in MNRJ: Murici, Alagoas State),Epiperipatusbeckerisp. nov. (Holotype female deposited in MNRJ: Camacan, Bahia State) andEpiperipatusmarajoarasp. nov. (Holotype male deposited in MZUSP: Breves, Marajó island, Pará State). The peculiar shape of the primary papillae (artichoke-like) ofE.titanicussp. nov. andE.beckerisp. nov. is documented for the first time.Epiperipatustitanicussp. nov. has the largest number of pairs of oncopods (38 for males and 39 for females) among the Brazilian Onychophora. We also provide an identification key for Brazilian species ofEpiperipatus.
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Ou Q, Mayer G. A Cambrian unarmoured lobopodian, †Lenisambulatrix humboldti gen. et sp. nov., compared with new material of †Diania cactiformis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13667. [PMID: 30237414 PMCID: PMC6147921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31499-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cambrian marine lobopodians are generally considered as predecessors of modern panarthropods (onychophorans, tardigrades, and arthropods). Hence, further study of their morphological diversity and early radiation may enhance our understanding of the ground pattern and evolutionary history of panarthropods. Here, we report a rare lobopodian species, †Lenisambulatrix humboldti gen. et sp. nov. ("Humboldt lobopodian"), from the early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte and describe new morphological features of †Diania cactiformis, a coeval armoured lobopodian nicknamed "walking cactus". Both lobopodian species were similar in possessing rather thick, elongate lobopods without terminal claws. However, in contrast to †Diania cactiformis, the body of which was heavily armored with spines, the trunk and limbs of the Humboldt lobopodian were entirely unarmored. Our study augments the morphological diversity of Cambrian lobopodians and presents two evolutionary extremes of cuticular ornamentation: one represented by the Humboldt lobopodian, which was most likely entirely "naked", the other epitomized by †D. cactiformis, which was highly "armoured".
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Ou
- Early Life Evolution Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China. .,Department of Zoology, University of Kassel, 34132, Kassel, Germany.
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, University of Kassel, 34132, Kassel, Germany
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Siveter DJ, Briggs DEG, Siveter DJ, Sutton MD, Legg D. A three-dimensionally preserved lobopodian from the Herefordshire (Silurian) Lagerstätte, UK. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:172101. [PMID: 30224988 PMCID: PMC6124121 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.172101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Herefordshire (Silurian) Lagerstätte (approx. 430 Myr BP) has yielded, among many exceptionally preserved invertebrates, a wide range of new genera belonging to crown-group Panarthropoda. Here, we increase this panarthropod diversity with the lobopodian Thanahita distos, a new total-group panarthropod genus and species. This new lobopodian preserves at least nine paired, long, slender appendages, the anterior two in the head region and the posterior seven representing trunk lobopods. The body ends in a short post-appendicular extension. Some of the trunk lobopods bear two claws, others a single claw. The body is covered by paired, tuft-like papillae. Thanahita distos joins only seven other known three-dimensionally preserved lobopodian or onychophoran (velvet worm) fossil specimens and is the first lobopodian to be formally described from the Silurian. Phylogenetic analysis recovered it, together with all described Hallucigenia species, in a sister-clade to crown-group panarthropods. Its placement in a redefined Hallucigeniidae, an iconic Cambrian clade, indicates the survival of this clade to Silurian times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek J. Siveter
- Earth Collections, University Museum of Natural History, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN, UK
| | - Derek E. G. Briggs
- Department of Geology and Geophysics and Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, PO Box 208109, New Haven, CT 06520-8109, USA
| | - David J. Siveter
- School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Mark D. Sutton
- Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, UK
| | - David Legg
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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Giribet G, Buckman-Young RS, Costa CS, Baker CM, Benavides LR, Branstetter MG, Daniels SR, Pinto-da-Rocha R. The ‘Peripatos' in Eurogondwana? — Lack of evidence that southeast Asian onychophorans walked through Europe. INVERTEBR SYST 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/is18007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Onychophorans, or velvet worms, are cryptic but extremely charismatic terrestrial invertebrates that have often been the subject of interesting biogeographic debate. Despite great interest, a well resolved and complete phylogeny of the group and a reliable chronogram have been elusive due to their broad geographic distribution, paucity of samples, and challenging molecular composition. Here we present a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Onychophora that includes previously unsampled and undersampled lineages and we analyse the expanded dataset using a series of nested taxon sets designed to increase the amount of information available for particular subclades. These include a dataset with outgroups, one restricted to the ingroup taxa, and three others for Peripatopsidae, Peripatidae and Neopatida (= the Neotropical Peripatidae). To explore competing biogeographic scenarios we generate a new time tree for Onychophora using the few available reliable fossils as calibration points. Comparing our results to those of Cyphophthalmi, we reconsider the hypothesis that velvet worms reached Southeast Asia via Eurogondwana, and conclude that a more likely scenario is that they reached Southeast Asia by rafting on the Sibumasu terrane. Our phylogenetic results support the reciprocal monophyly of both families as well as an early division between East and West Gondwana, also in both families, each beginning to diversify between the Permian and the Jurassic. Peripatopsidae clearly supports paraphyly of South Africa with respect to southern South America (Chile) and a sister group relationship of the Southeast Asian/New Guinean Paraperipatus to the Australian/New Zealand taxa. The latter includes a clade that divides between Western Australia and Eastern Australia and two sister clades of trans-Tasman species (one oviparous and one viviparous). This pattern clearly shows that oviparity is secondarily derived in velvet worms. Peripatidae finds a sister group relationship between the Southeast Asian Eoperipatus and the West Gondwanan clade, which divides into the African Mesoperipatus and Neopatida. The latter shows a well supported split between the Pacific Oroperipatus (although it is unclear whether they form one or two clades) and a sister clade that includes the members of the genera Peripatus, Epiperipatus, Macroperipatus and representatives of the monotypic genera Cerradopatus, Plicatoperipatus and Principapillatus. However, Peripatus, Epiperipatus and Macroperipatus are not monophyletic, and all the species from the monotypic genera are related to geographically close species. The same goes for the type species of Macroperipatus (from Trinidad, and sister group to other Trinidad and Tobago species of Epiperipatus) and Epiperipatus (from French Guiana, and related to other Guyana shield species of Epiperipatus and Peripatus). Geographic structure within Neopatida is largely obscured by an unresolved backbone, but many well supported instances of generic non-monophyly challenge the current taxonomic framework, which has often relied on anatomical characters that are untested phylogenetically.
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de Sena Oliveira I, Ruhberg H, Rowell DM, Mayer G. Revision of Tasmanian viviparous velvet worms (Onychophora : Peripatopsidae) with descriptions of two new species. INVERTEBR SYST 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/is17096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The restricted distribution of viviparous onychophorans in Tasmania has long been a subject of discussion, but their evolutionary history remains unclear. We applied morphological, molecular and karyological methods to assess the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the four viviparous species reported from Tasmania, including Tasmanipatus barretti, T. anophthalmus and two undescribed species previously referred to as ‘Tasmania’ sp. 1 and sp. 2. We demonstrate that all four species can be unambiguously distinguished based on independent character sets. The two ‘Tasmania’ species, which were previously thought to be cryptic, proved to exhibit a set of distinct morphological characters. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the four species belong to a major clade that includes Peripatoides from New Zealand, and that species from the two landmasses show reciprocal monophyly within this clade. Within the Tasmanian clade, T. anophthalmus is more closely related to the two ‘Tasmania’ species than to T. barretti. Based on this relationship and the lack of morphological and/or karyological characters supporting the Tasmanian viviparous clade, we erect two new genera to accommodate the two ‘Tasmania’ species (Diemenipatus, gen. nov.) and T. anophthalmus (Leucopatus, gen. nov.). An emended diagnosis followed by a redescription of T. barretti is provided and ‘Tasmania’ sp. 1 and sp. 2 are formally described as D. taiti, gen. et sp. nov. and D. mesibovi, gen. et sp. nov., respectively.
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Myoanatomy of the velvet worm leg revealed by laboratory-based nanofocus X-ray source tomography. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:12378-12383. [PMID: 29109262 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1710742114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a powerful noninvasive technique for investigating the inner structure of objects and organisms. However, the resolution of laboratory CT systems is typically limited to the micrometer range. In this paper, we present a table-top nanoCT system in conjunction with standard processing tools that is able to routinely reach resolutions down to 100 nm without using X-ray optics. We demonstrate its potential for biological investigations by imaging a walking appendage of Euperipatoides rowelli, a representative of Onychophora-an invertebrate group pivotal for understanding animal evolution. Comparative analyses proved that the nanoCT can depict the external morphology of the limb with an image quality similar to scanning electron microscopy, while simultaneously visualizing internal muscular structures at higher resolutions than confocal laser scanning microscopy. The obtained nanoCT data revealed hitherto unknown aspects of the onychophoran limb musculature, enabling the 3D reconstruction of individual muscle fibers, which was previously impossible using any laboratory-based imaging technique.
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Baer A, Schmidt S, Haensch S, Eder M, Mayer G, Harrington MJ. Mechanoresponsive lipid-protein nanoglobules facilitate reversible fibre formation in velvet worm slime. Nat Commun 2017; 8:974. [PMID: 29042549 PMCID: PMC5645397 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01142-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Velvet worms eject a fluid capture slime that can be mechanically drawn into stiff biopolymeric fibres. Remarkably, these fibres can be dissolved by extended exposure to water, and new regenerated fibres can be drawn from the dissolved fibre solution-indicating a fully recyclable process. Here, we perform a multiscale structural and compositional investigation of this reversible fabrication process with the velvet worm Euperipatoides rowelli, revealing that biopolymeric fibre assembly is facilitated via mono-disperse lipid-protein nanoglobules. Shear forces cause nanoglobules to self-assemble into nano- and microfibrils, which can be drawn into macroscopic fibres with a protein-enriched core and lipid-rich coating. Fibre dissolution in water leads to re-formation of nanoglobules, suggesting that this dynamic supramolecular assembly of mechanoresponsive protein-building blocks is mediated by reversible non-covalent interactions. These findings offer important mechanistic insights into the role of mechanochemical processes in bio-fibre formation, providing potential avenues for sustainable material fabrication processes.Velvet worms expel a fluid slime that, under shear force, forms stiff fibres that can be dissolved and then regenerated. Here, the authors reveal that the recyclability of these biopolymers relies on mechanoresponsive lipid-protein nanoglobules in the slime that reversibly self-assemble into fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Baer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, 34132, Kassel, Germany.
| | - Stephan Schmidt
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sebastian Haensch
- Center for Advanced Imaging (CAi), Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michaela Eder
- Dept. of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, 34132, Kassel, Germany
| | - Matthew J Harrington
- Dept. of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany. .,Dept. of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B8, Canada.
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Do holocentric chromosomes represent an evolutionary advantage? A study of paired analyses of diversification rates of lineages with holocentric chromosomes and their monocentric closest relatives. Chromosome Res 2017; 26:139-152. [PMID: 29043597 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-017-9566-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite most of the cytogenetic research is focused on monocentric chromosomes, chromosomes with kinetochoric activity localized in a single centromere, several studies have been centered on holocentric chromosomes which have diffuse kinetochoric activity along the chromosomes. The eukaryotic organisms that present this type of chromosomes have been relatively understudied despite they constitute rather diversified species lineages. On the one hand, holocentric chromosomes may present intrinsic benefits (chromosome mutations such as fissions and fusions are potentially neutral in holocentrics). On the other hand, they present restrictions to the spatial separation of the functions of recombination and segregation during meiotic divisions (functions that may interfere), separation that is found in monocentric chromosomes. In this study, we compare the diversification rates of all known holocentric lineages in animals and plants with their most related monocentric lineages in order to elucidate whether holocentric chromosomes constitute an evolutionary advantage in terms of diversification and species richness. The results showed that null hypothesis of equal mean diversification rates cannot be rejected, leading us to surmise that shifts in diversification rates between holocentric and monocentric lineages might be due to other factors, such as the idiosyncrasy of each lineage or the interplay of evolutionary selections with the benefits of having either monocentric or holocentric chromosomes.
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Martin C, Gross V, Hering L, Tepper B, Jahn H, de Sena Oliveira I, Stevenson PA, Mayer G. The nervous and visual systems of onychophorans and tardigrades: learning about arthropod evolution from their closest relatives. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017; 203:565-590. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1186-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Cunha WTR, Santos RCO, Araripe J, Sampaio I, Schneider H, Rêgo PS. Molecular analyses reveal the occurrence of three new sympatric lineages of velvet worms (Onychophora: Peripatidae) in the eastern Amazon basin. Genet Mol Biol 2017; 40:147-152. [PMID: 28257522 PMCID: PMC5409768 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2016-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the possible existence of new lineages of
peripatids through comparisons between known Neotropical species and specimens
obtained from two locations in Pará, a state in eastern Brazilian Amazonia using a
molecular approach based on sequences of the mtDNA genes COI, 16Sr RNA, and 18S RNA.
The analyses included also sequences of Asian and African taxa for a more systematic
understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within the group. The analysis of the
COI, 16S rRNA and 18S RNA sequences permitted the identification of three distinct
lineages (A, B and C) based on two different phylogenetic approaches (Bayesian
methods and ML). The three lineages presented here are completely distinct from all
other peripatid taxa so far defined by molecular data. The presence of specimens of
three independent onychophoran lineages occurring in sympatry in the Amazon basin was
confirmed in all the analyses, providing consistent support for the phylogenies
presented in this study. These findings reinforce the importance of the Amazon region
in the diversification of Neotropical peripatids, and indicate that onychophoran
diversity is much greater than previously thought, given that the number of taxa
found at a single site was equivalent to the total number of allopatric species
described for the entire region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Williana T R Cunha
- Laboratório de Genética e Conservação, Instituto de Estudos Costeiros, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brazil
| | - Rita C O Santos
- Laboratório de Genética e Conservação, Instituto de Estudos Costeiros, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brazil
| | - Juliana Araripe
- Laboratório de Genética e Conservação, Instituto de Estudos Costeiros, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brazil
| | - Iracilda Sampaio
- Laboratório de Genética e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Estudos Costeiros, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brazil
| | - Horacio Schneider
- Laboratório de Genética e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Estudos Costeiros, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brazil
| | - Péricles S Rêgo
- Laboratório de Genética e Conservação, Instituto de Estudos Costeiros, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança, PA, Brazil
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Treffkorn S, Mayer G. Conserved versus derived patterns of controlled cell death during the embryonic development of two species of Onychophora (velvet worms). Dev Dyn 2017; 246:403-416. [PMID: 28198063 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apoptosis is involved in various developmental processes, including cell migration and tissue and organ formation. Some of these processes are conserved across metazoans, while others are specific to particular taxa. Although the patterns of apoptosis have been investigated in arthropods, no corresponding data are available from one of their closest relatives, the Onychophora (velvet worms). RESULTS We analyzed the patterns of apoptosis in embryos of two onychophoran species: the lecithotrophic/matrotrophic viviparous peripatopsid Euperipatoides rowelli, and the placentotrophic viviparous peripatid Principapillatus hitoyensis. Our data show that apoptosis occurs early in development and might be responsible for the degeneration of extra-embryonic tissues. Moreover, apoptosis might be involved in the morphogenesis of the ventral and preventral organs in both species and occurs additionally in the placental stalk of P. hitoyensis. CONCLUSIONS Despite the different developmental modes in these onychophoran species, our data suggest that patterns of apoptosis are conserved among onychophorans. While apoptosis in the dorsal extra-embryonic tissue might contribute to dorsal closure-a process also known from arthropods-the involvement of apoptosis in ventral closure might be unique to onychophorans. Apoptosis in the placental stalk of P. hitoyensis is most likely a derived feature of the placentotrophic onychophorans. Developmental Dynamics 246:403-416, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Treffkorn
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
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Martin C, Gross V, Pflüger HJ, Stevenson PA, Mayer G. Assessing segmental versus non-segmental features in the ventral nervous system of onychophorans (velvet worms). BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:3. [PMID: 28049417 PMCID: PMC5209844 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0853-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Due to their phylogenetic position as one of the closest arthropod relatives, studies of the organisation of the nervous system in onychophorans play a key role for understanding the evolution of body segmentation in arthropods. Previous studies revealed that, in contrast to the arthropods, segmentally repeated ganglia are not present within the onychophoran ventral nerve cords, suggesting that segmentation is either reduced or might be incomplete in the onychophoran ventral nervous system. Results To assess segmental versus non-segmental features in the ventral nervous system of onychophorans, we screened the nerve cords for various markers, including synapsin, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, RFamide, dopamine, tyramine and octopamine. In addition, we performed retrograde fills of serially repeated commissures and leg nerves to localise the position of neuronal somata supplying those. Our data revealed a mixture of segmental and non-segmental elements within the onychophoran nervous system. Conclusions We suggest that the segmental ganglia of arthropods evolved by a gradual condensation of subsets of neurons either in the arthropod or the arthropod-tardigrade lineage. These findings are in line with the hypothesis of gradual evolution of segmentation in panarthropods and thus contradict a loss of ancestral segmentation within the onychophoran lineage. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0853-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Martin
- Department of Zoology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, D-34132, Kassel, Germany.
| | - Vladimir Gross
- Department of Zoology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, D-34132, Kassel, Germany
| | - Hans-Joachim Pflüger
- Institute of Biology, Neurobiology, Free University of Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 28-30, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul A Stevenson
- Physiology of Animals and Behaviour, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstraße 33, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, D-34132, Kassel, Germany
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Oliveira I, Bai M, Jahn H, Gross V, Martin C, Hammel J, Zhang W, Mayer G. Earliest Onychophoran in Amber Reveals Gondwanan Migration Patterns. Curr Biol 2016; 26:2594-2601. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Garwood RJ, Edgecombe GD, Charbonnier S, Chabard D, Sotty D, Giribet G. Carboniferous Onychophora from Montceau-les-Mines, France, and onychophoran terrestrialization. INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY : A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY AND THE DIVISION OF INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY/ASZ 2016; 135:179-190. [PMID: 27708504 PMCID: PMC5042098 DOI: 10.1111/ivb.12130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The geological age of the onychophoran crown-group, and when the group came onto land, have been sources of debate. Although stem-group Onychophora have been identified from as early as the Cambrian, the sparse record of terrestrial taxa from before the Cretaceous is subject to contradictory interpretations. A Late Carboniferous species from the Mazon Creek biota of the USA, Helenodora inopinata, originally interpreted as a crown-group onychophoran, has recently been allied to early Cambrian stem-group taxa. Here we describe a fossil species from the Late Carboniferous Montceau-les-Mines Lagerstätte, France, informally referred to as an onychophoran for more than 30 years. The onychophoran affinities of Antennipatus montceauensis gen. nov., sp. nov. are indicated by the form of the trunk plicae and the shape and spacing of their papillae, details of antennal annuli, and the presence of putative slime papillae. The poor preservation of several key systematic characters for extant Onychophora, however, prohibits the precise placement of the Carboniferous fossil in the stem or crown of the two extant families, or the onychophoran stem-group as a whole. Nevertheless, A. montceauensis is the most compelling candidate to date for a terrestrial Paleozoic onychophoran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell J. Garwood
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterM13 9PLUK
- Department of Earth SciencesThe Natural History MuseumLondonSW7 5BDUK
| | | | - Sylvain Charbonnier
- Département Histoire de la TerreMuséum national d'Histoire naturelle, ParisF‐75005ParisFrance
| | | | - Daniel Sotty
- Muséum d'Histoire naturelle d'AutunF‐71400AutunFrance
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusetts02138USA
- Department of Life SciencesThe Natural History MuseumLondonSW7 5BDUK
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Daniels SR, Dambire C, Klaus S, Sharma PP. Unmasking alpha diversity, cladogenesis and biogeographical patterning in an ancient panarthropod lineage (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae:Opisthopatus cinctipes) with the description of five novel species. Cladistics 2016; 32:506-537. [DOI: 10.1111/cla.12154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Savel R. Daniels
- Department of Botany and Zoology; University of Stellenbosch; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 South Africa
| | - Charlene Dambire
- Department of Botany and Zoology; University of Stellenbosch; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 South Africa
| | - Sebastian Klaus
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; J. W. Goethe-University; Biologicum D-60435 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Prashant P. Sharma
- Department of Zoology; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison WI 53706 USA
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Yang J, Ortega-Hernández J, Gerber S, Butterfield NJ, Hou JB, Lan T, Zhang XG. A superarmored lobopodian from the Cambrian of China and early disparity in the evolution of Onychophora. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:8678-83. [PMID: 26124122 PMCID: PMC4507230 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1505596112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe Collinsium ciliosum from the early Cambrian Xiaoshiba Lagerstätte in South China, an armored lobopodian with a remarkable degree of limb differentiation including a pair of antenna-like appendages, six pairs of elongate setiferous limbs for suspension feeding, and nine pairs of clawed annulated legs with an anchoring function. Collinsium belongs to a highly derived clade of lobopodians within stem group Onychophora, distinguished by a substantial dorsal armature of supernumerary and biomineralized spines (Family Luolishaniidae). As demonstrated here, luolishaniids display the highest degree of limb specialization among Paleozoic lobopodians, constitute more than one-third of the overall morphological disparity of stem group Onychophora, and are substantially more disparate than crown group representatives. Despite having higher disparity and appendage complexity than other lobopodians and extant velvet worms, the specialized mode of life embodied by luolishaniids became extinct during the Early Paleozoic. Collinsium and other superarmored lobopodians exploited a unique paleoecological niche during the Cambrian explosion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Paleobiology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | | | - Sylvain Gerber
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Butterfield
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, United Kingdom
| | - Jin-Bo Hou
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Paleobiology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Tian Lan
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Paleobiology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Xi-guang Zhang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Paleobiology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China;
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Franke FA, Schumann I, Hering L, Mayer G. Phylogenetic analysis and expression patterns of Pax genes in the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli reveal a novel bilaterian Pax subfamily. Evol Dev 2015; 17:3-20. [PMID: 25627710 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Pax family genes encode a class of transcription factors that regulate various developmental processes. To shed light on the evolutionary history of these genes in Panarthropoda (Onychophora + Tardigrada + Arthropoda), we analyzed the Pax repertoire in the embryonic and adult transcriptomes of the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli. Our data revealed homologs of all five major bilaterian Pax subfamilies in this species, including Pax2/5/8, Pax4/6, Pox-neuro, Pax1/9/Pox-meso, and Pax3/7. In addition, we identified a new Pax member, pax-α, which does not fall into any other known Pax subfamily but instead clusters in the heterogenic Pax-α/β clade containing deuterostome, ecdysozoan, and lophotrochozoan gene sequences. These findings suggest that the last common bilaterian ancestor possessed six rather than five Pax genes, which have been retained in the panarthropod lineage. The expression data of Pax orthologs in the onychophoran embryo revealed distinctive patterns, some of which might be related to their ancestral roles in the last common panarthropod ancestor, whereas others might be specific to the onychophoran lineage. The derived roles include, for example, an involvement of pax2/5/8, pox-neuro, and pax3/7 in onychophoran nephridiogenesis, and an additional function of pax2/5/8 in the formation of the ventral and preventral organs. Furthermore, our transcriptomic analyses suggest that at least some Pax genes, including pax6 and pax-α, are expressed in the adult onychophoran head, although the corresponding functions remain to be clarified. The remarkable diversity of the Pax expression patterns highlights the functional and evolutionary plasticity of these genes in panarthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Anni Franke
- Animal Evolution & Development, , Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstraße 33, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
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Mayer G, Hering L, Stosch JM, Stevenson PA, Dircksen H. Evolution of pigment-dispersing factor neuropeptides in panarthropoda: Insights from onychophora (velvet worms) and tardigrada (water bears). J Comp Neurol 2015; 523:1865-85. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.23767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2014] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Georg Mayer
- Animal Evolution and Development; Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig; D-04103 Leipzig Germany
- Department of Zoology; Institute of Biology, University of Kassel; D-34132 Kassel Germany
| | - Lars Hering
- Animal Evolution and Development; Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig; D-04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Juliane M. Stosch
- Animal Evolution and Development; Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig; D-04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Paul A. Stevenson
- Physiology of Animals and Behavior; Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig; D-04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Heinrich Dircksen
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; S-10691 Stockholm Sweden
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Mayer G, Oliveira IS, Baer A, Hammel JU, Gallant J, Hochberg R. Capture of Prey, Feeding, and Functional Anatomy of the Jaws in Velvet Worms (Onychophora). Integr Comp Biol 2015; 55:217-27. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icv004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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Oscillation of the velvet worm slime jet by passive hydrodynamic instability. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6292. [PMID: 25780995 PMCID: PMC4382676 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid squirt of a proteinaceous slime jet endows velvet worms (Onychophora) with a unique mechanism for defence from predators and for capturing prey by entangling them in a disordered web that immobilizes their target. However, to date, neither qualitative nor quantitative descriptions have been provided for this unique adaptation. Here we investigate the fast oscillatory motion of the oral papillae and the exiting liquid jet that oscillates with frequencies f~30–60 Hz. Using anatomical images, high-speed videography, theoretical analysis and a physical simulacrum, we show that this fast oscillatory motion is the result of an elastohydrodynamic instability driven by the interplay between the elasticity of oral papillae and the fast unsteady flow during squirting. Our results demonstrate how passive strategies can be cleverly harnessed by organisms, while suggesting future oscillating microfluidic devices, as well as novel ways for micro and nanofibre production using bioinspired strategies. The velvet worm emits a rapidly oscillating jet of proteinaceous slime to capture prey. Here, Concha et al. combine high-speed videography and a physical simulacrum to establish that this passive mechanism is the result of elastohydrodynamic instability during high-speed flow through the oral papillae.
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Espinasa L, Garvey R, Espinasa J, Fratto CA, Taylor S, Toulkeridis T, Addison A. Cave dwelling Onychophora from a Lava Tube in the Galapagos. SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.15.8468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Oliveira IDS, Lacorte GA, Weck-Heimann A, Cordeiro LM, Wieloch AH, Mayer G. A new and critically endangered species and genus of Onychophora (Peripatidae) from the Brazilian savannah – a vulnerable biodiversity hotspot. SYST BIODIVERS 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2014.985621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Franke FA, Mayer G. Controversies surrounding segments and parasegments in onychophora: insights from the expression patterns of four "segment polarity genes" in the peripatopsid Euperipatoides rowelli. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114383. [PMID: 25470738 PMCID: PMC4255022 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropods typically show two types of segmentation: the embryonic parasegments and the adult segments that lie out of register with each other. Such a dual nature of body segmentation has not been described from Onychophora, one of the closest arthropod relatives. Hence, it is unclear whether onychophorans have segments, parasegments, or both, and which of these features was present in the last common ancestor of Onychophora and Arthropoda. To address this issue, we analysed the expression patterns of the "segment polarity genes" engrailed, cubitus interruptus, wingless and hedgehog in embryos of the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli. Our data revealed that these genes are expressed in repeated sets with a specific anterior-to-posterior order along the body in embryos of E. rowelli. In contrast to arthropods, the expression occurs after the segmental boundaries have formed. Moreover, the initial segmental furrow retains its position within the engrailed domain throughout development, whereas no new furrow is formed posterior to this domain. This suggests that no re-segmentation of the embryo occurs in E. rowelli. Irrespective of whether or not there is a morphological or genetic manifestation of parasegments in Onychophora, our data clearly show that parasegments, even if present, cannot be regarded as the initial metameric units of the onychophoran embryo, because the expression of key genes that define the parasegmental boundaries in arthropods occurs after the segmental boundaries have formed. This is in contrast to arthropods, in which parasegments rather than segments are the initial metameric units of the embryo. Our data further revealed that the expression patterns of "segment polarity genes" correspond to organogenesis rather than segment formation. This is in line with the concept of segmentation as a result of concerted evolution of individual periodic structures rather than with the interpretation of 'segments' as holistic units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Anni Franke
- Animal Evolution & Development, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstraße 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Animal Evolution & Development, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstraße 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Baer A, de Sena Oliveira I, Steinhagen M, Beck-Sickinger AG, Mayer G. Slime protein profiling: a non-invasive tool for species identification in Onychophora (velvet worms). J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Baer
- Animal Evolution and Development; Institute of Biology; University of Leipzig; Leipzig Germany
| | - Ivo de Sena Oliveira
- Animal Evolution and Development; Institute of Biology; University of Leipzig; Leipzig Germany
| | - Max Steinhagen
- Biochemistry and Bioorganic Chemistry; Institute of Biochemistry; University of Leipzig; Leipzig Germany
| | - Annette G. Beck-Sickinger
- Biochemistry and Bioorganic Chemistry; Institute of Biochemistry; University of Leipzig; Leipzig Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Animal Evolution and Development; Institute of Biology; University of Leipzig; Leipzig Germany
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Martin C, Mayer G. Neuronal tracing of oral nerves in a velvet worm-Implications for the evolution of the ecdysozoan brain. Front Neuroanat 2014; 8:7. [PMID: 24616668 PMCID: PMC3935231 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2014.00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the closest relatives of arthropods, Onychophora plays an important role in understanding the evolution of arthropod body plans. Currently there is controversy surrounding the evolution of the brain among the ecdysozoan clades, which shows a collar-shaped, circumoral organization in cycloneuralians but a ganglionic architecture in panarthropods. Based on the innervation pattern of lip papillae surrounding the mouth, the onychophoran brain has been interpreted as a circumoral ring, suggesting that this organization is an ancestral feature of Ecdysozoa. However, this interpretation is inconsistent with other published data. To explore the evolutionary origin of the onychophoran mouth and to shed light on the evolution of the ecdysozoan brains, we analyzed the innervation pattern and morphogenesis of the oral lip papillae in the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli using DNA labeling, immunocytochemistry, and neuronal tracing techniques. Our morphogenetic data revealed that the seven paired and one unpaired oral lip papillae arise from three anterior-most body segments. Retrograde fills show that only the first and the third nerves supplying the lip papillae are associated with cell bodies within the brain, whereas the second nerve exclusively receives fibers from somata of peripheral neurons located in the lip papillae. According to our anterograde fills and immunocytochemical data, the first nerve supplies the anterior-most pair of lip papillae, whereas the second and the third nerves are associated with the second to fifth and second to eighth lip papillae, respectively. These data suggest that the lip papillae of E. rowelli are mainly innervated by the proto- and deutocerebrum, whereas there are only a few additional cell bodies situated posterior to the brain. According to these findings, the overall innervation pattern of the oral lip papillae in E. rowelli is incompatible with the interpretation of the onychophoran brain as a modified circumoral ring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Martin
- Animal Evolution & Development, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Animal Evolution & Development, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany
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de Sena Oliveira I, Tait NN, Strübing I, Mayer G. The role of ventral and preventral organs as attachment sites for segmental limb muscles in Onychophora. Front Zool 2013; 10:73. [PMID: 24308783 PMCID: PMC3866996 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-10-73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The so-called ventral organs are amongst the most enigmatic structures in Onychophora (velvet worms). They were described as segmental, ectodermal thickenings in the onychophoran embryo, but the same term has also been applied to mid-ventral, cuticular structures in adults, although the relationship between the embryonic and adult ventral organs is controversial. In the embryo, these structures have been regarded as anlagen of segmental ganglia, but recent studies suggest that they are not associated with neural development. Hence, their function remains obscure. Moreover, their relationship to the anteriorly located preventral organs, described from several onychophoran species, is also unclear. To clarify these issues, we studied the anatomy and development of the ventral and preventral organs in several species of Onychophora. RESULTS Our anatomical data, based on histology, and light, confocal and scanning electron microscopy in five species of Peripatidae and three species of Peripatopsidae, revealed that the ventral and preventral organs are present in all species studied. These structures are covered externally with cuticle that forms an internal, longitudinal, apodeme-like ridge. Moreover, phalloidin-rhodamine labelling for f-actin revealed that the anterior and posterior limb depressor muscles in each trunk and the slime papilla segment attach to the preventral and ventral organs, respectively. During embryonic development, the ventral and preventral organs arise as large segmental, paired ectodermal thickenings that decrease in size and are subdivided into the smaller, anterior anlagen of the preventral organs and the larger, posterior anlagen of the ventral organs, both of which persist as paired, medially-fused structures in adults. Our expression data of the genes Delta and Notch from embryos of Euperipatoides rowelli revealed that these genes are expressed in two, paired domains in each body segment, corresponding in number, position and size with the anlagen of the ventral and preventral organs. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the ventral and preventral organs are a common feature of onychophorans that serve as attachment sites for segmental limb depressor muscles. The origin of these structures can be traced back in the embryo as latero-ventral segmental, ectodermal thickenings, previously suggested to be associated with the development of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo de Sena Oliveira
- Animal Evolution and Development, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstraße 33, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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de Sena Oliveira I, Mayer G. Apodemes associated with limbs support serial homology of claws and jaws in Onychophora (velvet worms). J Morphol 2013; 274:1180-90. [PMID: 23922297 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Revised: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although the onychophoran jaw blades are believed to be derivatives of foot claws, serial homology of these structures has not been demonstrated. To shed light on the evolutionary origin of the onychophoran jaws, we searched for morphological landmarks and compared the internal and external anatomy of jaws and distal leg portions in representatives of the two major onychophoran subgroups, the Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae. Our data revealed hitherto unknown structures associated with the onychophoran limbs, such as a soft diastemal membrane separating the anterior and posterior portions of the inner jaw blade (present only in Peripatidae), apodemes associated with feet, an eversible dorsal sac at the basis of each foot claw, and a specific arrangement of musculature associated with the sclerotised claws, jaws and their apodemes. Specific correspondences in structure and position of apodemes support serial homology of claws and jaws, suggesting that the onychophoran jaw evolved from the distal portion rather than the entire limb in the last common ancestor of Onychophora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo de Sena Oliveira
- Animal Evolution and Development, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstraße 33, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
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Oliveira IDS, Schaffer S, Kvartalnov PV, Galoyan EA, Palko IV, Weck-Heimann A, Geissler P, Ruhberg H, Mayer G. A new species of Eoperipatus (Onychophora) from Vietnam reveals novel morphological characters for the South-East Asian Peripatidae. ZOOL ANZ 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2013.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Jeffery NW, Oliveira IS, Gregory TR, Rowell DM, Mayer G. Genome size and chromosome number in velvet worms (Onychophora). Genetica 2013; 140:497-504. [PMID: 23307271 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-013-9698-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 01/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The Onychophora (velvet worms) represents a small group of invertebrates (~180 valid species), which is commonly united with Tardigrada and Arthropoda in a clade called Panarthropoda. As with the majority of invertebrate taxa, genome size data are very limited for the Onychophora, with only one previously published estimate. Here we use both flow cytometry and Feulgen image analysis densitometry to provide genome size estimates for seven species of velvet worms from both major subgroups, Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae, along with karyotype data for each species. Genome sizes in these species range from roughly 5-19 pg, with densitometric estimates being slightly larger than those obtained by flow cytometry for all species. Chromosome numbers range from 2n = 8 to 2n = 54. No relationship is evident between genome size, chromosome number, or reproductive mode. Various avenues for future genomic research are presented based on these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W Jeffery
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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