A New Dimension in Documenting New Species: High-Detail Imaging for Myriapod Taxonomy and First 3D Cybertype of a New Millipede Species (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae).

Nesrine Akkari,Henrik Enghoff,Brian D Metscher

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135243

Nesrine Akkari, Henrik Enghoff + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135243

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Abstract

We review the state-of-the-art approaches currently applied in myriapod taxonomy, and we describe, for the first time, a new species of millipede (Ommatoiulus avatar n. sp., family Julidae) using high-resolution X-ray microtomography (microCT) as a substantive adjunct to traditional morphological examination. We present 3D models of the holotype and paratype specimens and discuss the potential of this non-destructive technique in documenting new species of millipedes and other organisms. The microCT data have been uploaded to an open repository (Dryad) to serve as the first actual millipede cybertypes to be published.

Highlights

Since the time of Linnaeus, approximately 1.5 million new species have been described, which– despite the widespread desire to know the species with which we share our planet–accounts for only a modest fraction of global species diversity
Formerly restricted to the biomedical field and genetic model organisms, have forged the way to help answering questions related to evolutionary biology and overcome the gaps resulting from using single genes in most phylogenetic reconstructions e.g. [1], [2], [3]
In this work we demonstrate the use of microCT in describing new species, and we present for the first time 3D digital models of the type material of a recently discovered millipede species, Ommatoiulus avatar n. sp

Summary

Introduction

Since the time of Linnaeus, approximately 1.5 million new species have been described, which– despite the widespread desire to know the species with which we share our planet–accounts for only a modest fraction of global species diversity. Taxonomists are constantly looking for methods that could accelerate the pace of species discovery and enhance conventional description methods, but only a few attempts have been made to employ modern technologies in myriapodology. Some of the breakthroughs involve next-generation molecular techniques. This emerging discipline, which involves full genome or full transcriptome datasets, owes its existence to the revolutionizing progress in DNA sequencing technology, or next-generation sequencing, supplemented by a simultaneous maturation of bioinformatics. Cybertaxonomy is enjoying healthy progress, including novel methods for species illustration [4], [5], [6] and interactive identification keys, e.g. Cybertaxonomy is enjoying healthy progress, including novel methods for species illustration [4], [5], [6] and interactive identification keys, e.g. [4], [7]

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