Abstract
BackgroundTaxonomical studies of the neotropical Peripatidae (Onychophora, velvet worms) have proven difficult, due to intraspecific variation and uniformity of morphological characters across this onychophoran subgroup. We therefore used molecular approaches, in addition to morphological methods, to explore the diversity of Epiperipatus from the Minas Gerais State of Brazil.Methodology/Principal FindingsOur analyses revealed three new species. While Epiperipatus diadenoproctus sp. nov. can be distinguished from E. adenocryptus sp. nov. and E. paurognostus sp. nov. based on morphology and specific nucleotide positions in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and small ribosomal subunit RNA gene sequences (12S rRNA), anatomical differences between the two latter species are not evident. However, our phylogenetic analyses of molecular data suggest that they are cryptic species, with high Bayesian posterior probabilities and bootstrap and Bremer support values for each species clade. The sister group relationship of E. adenocryptus sp. nov. and E. paurognostus sp. nov. in our analyses correlates with the remarkable morphological similarity of these two species. To assess the species status of the new species, we performed a statistical parsimony network analysis based on 582 base pairs of the COI gene in our specimens, with the connection probability set to 95%. Our findings revealed no connections between groups of haplotypes, which have been recognized as allopatric lineages in our phylogenetic analyses, thus supporting our suggestion that they are separate species.Conclusions/SignificanceOur findings suggest high cryptic species diversity and endemism among the neotropical Peripatidae and demonstrate that the combination of morphological and molecular approaches is helpful for clarifying the taxonomy and species diversity of this apparently large and diverse onychophoran group.
Highlights
The phylogeny and taxonomy of the neotropical Peripatidae is understudied [1,2,3,4] and the estimated number of 70–80 described species and subspecies apparently does not reflect the actual diversity of the group [5]
Conclusions/Significance: Our findings suggest high cryptic species diversity and endemism among the neotropical Peripatidae and demonstrate that the combination of morphological and molecular approaches is helpful for clarifying the taxonomy and species diversity of this apparently large and diverse onychophoran group
Our data suggest cryptic speciation and high endemism in the neotropical Peripatidae and provide evidence of three new species of Epiperipatus, for which we provide formal descriptions and type designations to fulfil the requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
Summary
The phylogeny and taxonomy of the neotropical Peripatidae is understudied [1,2,3,4] and the estimated number of 70–80 described species and subspecies apparently does not reflect the actual diversity of the group [5]. While scanning electron microscopy has revealed a high morphological diversity of the neotropical Peripatidae (e.g., [1,2,4]), molecular methods have not been used to clarify the genetic diversity of the group. These methods have shown that cryptic speciation is a common phenomenon in the Peripatopsidae, another large onychophoran taxon [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. We used molecular approaches, in addition to morphological methods, to explore the diversity of Epiperipatus from the Minas Gerais State of Brazil
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
