Systematic and biogeographical study of Protura (Hexapoda) in Russian Far East: new data on high endemism of the group

Protura in Arctic Regions, with Description of Mastodonentomon n. gen. (Acerentomidae, Nipponentominae) and a Key to Known Arctic Taxa

Protura are widespread, but their presence in the Arctic was first noted only ca. 70 years ago and is still little acknowledged. This work compiles taxonomic information on proturans in the Arctic regions and adds unpublished data from Northern Siberia. Currently, this fauna is represented by 23 species in two orders and 14 genera. The large cosmopolitan genus Eosentomon is represented by only four species, whereas Acerentomidae is much more diverse, with 19 species in 13 genera (eight Nipponentominae, five Acerentominae). Most of the Arctic species possess a larger number of setae than species living in temperate regions. Based on several unique characters, a new genus, Mastodonentomon, is erected for Nipponentomon macleani, and the species is re-described with the original description supplemented with new characters, including head chaetotaxy, seta length, and porotaxy. Proturan occurrence in the Arctic is limited to Beringia, but the majority of species have restricted distributions and none have been found in both the American Arctic and Siberia. This implies relict origins and high levels of proturan endemism in the Arctic. This emerging view on biogeographical history is, however, hampered by the limited extent of available data, which highlights the need for considerably greater survey efforts. A key to Arctic proturans is provided to facilitate further studies.

Protura from Hainan Island, China: new species, checklist and distribution

More than 1500 proturan specimens from Hainan Island are systematically studied. An annotated list of all species of Protura from Hainan Island is provided and their geographical distribution is discussed. The genus Paracondeellum is reported from Hainan Island for the first time, and Paracondeellumparadisumsp. nov. is described. The type species Paracondeellumdukouense (Tang & Yin, 1988) is redescribed based on syntype, and the lectotype and paralectotype are designated. The characters of the genus Paracondeellum are redefined, and the two known species are compared in detail. The Protura fauna of Hainan Island is mainly composed of species from the Oriental region, with 91% of the species belonging to the families Berberentulidae and Eosentomidae.

Genera of the Protura of the World: diagnosis, distribution, and key

Protura are known all over the world with more than 800 described species belonging to three different orders (Acerentomata, Sinentomata, and Eosentomata) and seven families (Hesperentomidae, Protentomidae, Acerentomidae, Fujientomidae, Sinentomidae, Eosentomidae, and Antelientomidae). At present 76 genera are known worldwide. In this paper a description of the diagnostic characters of these genera and an updated key for their identification are reported.