A world checklist of Onychophora (velvet worms), with notes on nomenclature and status of names.

Ivo Oliveira,Georg Mayer,V Morley Read

doi:10.3897/zookeys.211.3463

Abstract

Currently, the number of valid species of Onychophora is uncertain. To facilitate taxonomic work on this understudied animal group, we present an updated checklist for the two extant onychophoran subgroups, Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae, along with an assessment of the status of each species. According to our study, 82 species of Peripatidae and 115 species of Peripatopsidae have been described thus far. However, among these 197 species, 20 are nomina dubia due to major taxonomic inconsistencies. Apart from nomina dubia, many of the valid species also require revision, in particular representatives of Paraperipatus within the Peripatopsidae, and nearly all species of Peripatidae. In addition to extant representatives, the record of unambiguous fossils includes three species with uncertain relationship to the extant taxa. For all species, we provide a list of synonyms, information on types and type localities, as well as remarks on taxonomic and nomenclatural problems and misspellings. According to recent evidence of high endemism and cryptic speciation among the Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae, previous synonyms are revised. Putative mutations, subspecies and variations are either raised to the species status or synonymised with corresponding taxa. In our revised checklist, we follow the rules and recommendations of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature to clarify previous inconsistencies.

Highlights

Onychophorans play an important role in studies of animal evolution, biogeography and conservation (Sedgwick 1908; Brues 1923; Brinck 1957; Ruhberg 1985; Monge-Nájera 1995; New 1995; Reid 1996), the taxonomy and species diversity of this taxon are understudied
Our revised checklist revealed 177 valid onychophoran species worldwide (Table 1). This number most likely does not reflect the actual diversity of Onychophora as recent evidence suggests a high number of undescribed and cryptic species in both Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae (Reid 1996; Daniels et al 2009; Lacorte 2011; Oliveira et al 2011; McDonald and Daniels 2012; McDonald et al 2012)
Our study shows that many of the valid species require revision, in particular representatives of Paraperipatus within Peripatopsidae, and most species of Peripatidae

Summary

Introduction

Onychophorans play an important role in studies of animal evolution, biogeography and conservation (Sedgwick 1908; Brues 1923; Brinck 1957; Ruhberg 1985; Monge-Nájera 1995; New 1995; Reid 1996), the taxonomy and species diversity of this taxon are understudied. We compiled a checklist of all described species of Onychophora and re-evaluated their species status following the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Our checklist summarizes information on valid species names,. A world checklist of Onychophora, with notes on nomenclature and status of names synonyms, description language, type locality, type designation and location of holotypes. Additional remarks highlight aspects relevant for future work, which will help improve our knowledge of the taxonomy and species diversity of Onychophora

Methods

PERIPATOPSIDAE

FOSSIL SPECIES WITH UNCERTAIN RELATIONSHIP TO THE EXTANT TAXA

Findings

Discussion