Molecular diversity of Dunedin peripatus (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae)

Abstract

Onychophora tend to be morphologically conservative. Several studies using molecular techniques have revealed the existence of cryptic species and population structuring. The application of allozyme electrophoresis to New Zealand peripatus that were thought to belong to a single widespread species (Peripatoides novaezealandiae) has revealed several undetected species, including a taxon specific to Dunedin (southern South Island, New Zealand). However, almost nothing is known about the geographic range and variability of this species, nor indeed whether it comprises one or more cryptic taxa. I used analysis of cytochrome oxidase I mtDNA sequences to explore these aspects of peripatus found in the vicinity of Dunedin. Eighteen different haplotypes were detected in 47 individuals from 21 locations. The sequence of a 540 bp COI fragment contained 64 parsimony informative sites and nucleotide diversity of up to 11% among ingroup taxa. Phylogenetic analyses, and genetic distance by geographic distance correlation, indicated probable species‐level divisions within the sample. Two principal groups with a boundary on the east coast of New Zealand near the mouth of the Taieri River can be defined, and these are denoted “Dunedin” and “Catlins” peripatus. There is a third, possibly distinct lineage at Piano Flat. A rearrangement of the mito‐chondrial genome, relating to the position of the tLEU rna gene, was detected in these and other New Zealand peripatus and may be present in all Onychophora.