A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae)
Onychophorans, or velvet worms, are poorly known and rare animals. Here we report the discovery of a new species that is also the largest onychophoran found so far, a 22cm long female from the Caribbean coastal forest of Costa Rica. Specimens were examined with Scanning Electron Microscopy; Peripatu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Vicerractoría Investigación
2010-12-01
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| Series: | Revista de Biología Tropical |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442010000400006 |
| _version_ | 1797813875818627072 |
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| author | Bernal Morera-Brenes Julián Monge-Nájera |
| author_facet | Bernal Morera-Brenes Julián Monge-Nájera |
| author_sort | Bernal Morera-Brenes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Onychophorans, or velvet worms, are poorly known and rare animals. Here we report the discovery of a new species that is also the largest onychophoran found so far, a 22cm long female from the Caribbean coastal forest of Costa Rica. Specimens were examined with Scanning Electron Microscopy; Peripatus solorzanoi sp. nov., is diagnosed as follows: primary papillae convex and conical with rounded bases, with more than 18 scale ranks. Apical section large, spherical, with a basal diameter of at least 20 ranks. Apical piece with 6-7 scale ranks. Outer blade 1 principal tooth, 1 accessory tooth, 1 vestigial accessory tooth (formula: 1/1/1); inner blade 1 principal tooth, 1 accessory tooth, 1 rudimentary accessory tooth, 9 to 10 denticles (formula: 1/1/1/9-10). Accessory tooth blunt in both blades. Four pads in the fourth and fifth oncopods; 4th. pad arched. The previously unknown mechanism by which onychophorans weave their adhesive is simple: muscular action produces a swinging movement of the adhesive-spelling organs; as a result, the streams cross in mid air, weaving the net. Like all onychophorans, P. solorzanoi is a rare species: active protection of the habitat of the largest onychophoran ever described, is considered urgent. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (4): 1127-1142. Epub 2010 December 01.<br>Los onicóforos o "peripatos" son animales escasos y poco conocidos. Aquí informamos el descubrimiento del onicóforo más grandes conocido, una hembra de 22cm de longitud del bosque costero caribeño de Costa Rica. Analizamos los especímenes con microscopia electrónica de barrido. La nueva especie, Peripatus solorzanoi, sp. nov. se caracteriza así: papilas primarias convexas y cónicas, con bases redondeadas y más de 18 filas de escamas de alto. Sección apical grande y esférica, con diámetro basal de al menos 20 filas. Parte apical con 6-7 filas de escamas de alto. Fórmula de lámina mandibular externa 1/1/1, lámina interna: 1/1/1/9-10. Diente accesorio romo en ambas láminas. Cuatro almohadillas en cuarto y quinto oncopodios; cuarta almohadilla arqueada. Describimos el mecanismo, previamente desconocido, mediante el cual tejen su red los onicóforos, usando fotografías para mostrar que es de naturaleza muscular. Como todos los demás onicóforos, P. solorzanoi es una especie escasa: consideramos urgente la protección del hábitat del onicóforo más grande del mundo. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:59:11Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0034-7744 2215-2075 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:59:11Z |
| publishDate | 2010-12-01 |
| publisher | Vicerractoría Investigación |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista de Biología Tropical |
| spelling | doaj.art-67f4dee6990c40498e6ecc896c48aa572023-06-02T00:03:41ZengVicerractoría InvestigaciónRevista de Biología Tropical0034-77442215-20752010-12-0158411271142A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae)Bernal Morera-BrenesJulián Monge-NájeraOnychophorans, or velvet worms, are poorly known and rare animals. Here we report the discovery of a new species that is also the largest onychophoran found so far, a 22cm long female from the Caribbean coastal forest of Costa Rica. Specimens were examined with Scanning Electron Microscopy; Peripatus solorzanoi sp. nov., is diagnosed as follows: primary papillae convex and conical with rounded bases, with more than 18 scale ranks. Apical section large, spherical, with a basal diameter of at least 20 ranks. Apical piece with 6-7 scale ranks. Outer blade 1 principal tooth, 1 accessory tooth, 1 vestigial accessory tooth (formula: 1/1/1); inner blade 1 principal tooth, 1 accessory tooth, 1 rudimentary accessory tooth, 9 to 10 denticles (formula: 1/1/1/9-10). Accessory tooth blunt in both blades. Four pads in the fourth and fifth oncopods; 4th. pad arched. The previously unknown mechanism by which onychophorans weave their adhesive is simple: muscular action produces a swinging movement of the adhesive-spelling organs; as a result, the streams cross in mid air, weaving the net. Like all onychophorans, P. solorzanoi is a rare species: active protection of the habitat of the largest onychophoran ever described, is considered urgent. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (4): 1127-1142. Epub 2010 December 01.<br>Los onicóforos o "peripatos" son animales escasos y poco conocidos. Aquí informamos el descubrimiento del onicóforo más grandes conocido, una hembra de 22cm de longitud del bosque costero caribeño de Costa Rica. Analizamos los especímenes con microscopia electrónica de barrido. La nueva especie, Peripatus solorzanoi, sp. nov. se caracteriza así: papilas primarias convexas y cónicas, con bases redondeadas y más de 18 filas de escamas de alto. Sección apical grande y esférica, con diámetro basal de al menos 20 filas. Parte apical con 6-7 filas de escamas de alto. Fórmula de lámina mandibular externa 1/1/1, lámina interna: 1/1/1/9-10. Diente accesorio romo en ambas láminas. Cuatro almohadillas en cuarto y quinto oncopodios; cuarta almohadilla arqueada. Describimos el mecanismo, previamente desconocido, mediante el cual tejen su red los onicóforos, usando fotografías para mostrar que es de naturaleza muscular. Como todos los demás onicóforos, P. solorzanoi es una especie escasa: consideramos urgente la protección del hábitat del onicóforo más grande del mundo.http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442010000400006especie nuevamecanismo de tejido de redonicóforo más grandeonicóforos fósiles y vivientesnew speciesnet weaving mechanismlargest onychophoranfossil and extant velvet wormsPeripatidaetaxonomyCosta RicaPeripatus |
| spellingShingle | Bernal Morera-Brenes Julián Monge-Nájera A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae) Revista de Biología Tropical especie nueva mecanismo de tejido de red onicóforo más grande onicóforos fósiles y vivientes new species net weaving mechanism largest onychophoran fossil and extant velvet worms Peripatidae taxonomy Costa Rica Peripatus |
| title | A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae) |
| title_full | A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae) |
| title_fullStr | A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae) |
| title_short | A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae) |
| title_sort | new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets onychophora peripatidae |
| topic | especie nueva mecanismo de tejido de red onicóforo más grande onicóforos fósiles y vivientes new species net weaving mechanism largest onychophoran fossil and extant velvet worms Peripatidae taxonomy Costa Rica Peripatus |
| url | http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442010000400006 |
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