Register      Login
Invertebrate Systematics Invertebrate Systematics Society
Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Morphological assessment supports the recognition of four novel species in the widely distributed velvet worm Peripatopsis moseleyi sensu lato (Onychophora : Peripatopsidae)

Hilke Ruhberg A C and Savel R. Daniels B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Biocentre Grindel and Zoological Museum, University of Hamburg, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany.

B Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.

C Corresponding author. Email: ruhberg@zoologie.uni-hamburg.de

Invertebrate Systematics 27(2) 131-145 https://doi.org/10.1071/IS12069
Submitted: 29 August 2012  Accepted: 16 October 2012   Published: 24 May 2013

Abstract

A recent phylogenetic study based on DNA sequence data (COI + 18S rDNA) together with basic morphological characteristics demonstrated the presence of four novel lineages within the widely distributed South African velvet worm species Peripatopsis moseleyi sensu lato (Onychophora, Peripatopsidae). In the present study, the morphological variation within P. moseleyi (Wood-Mason, 1879) is quantified and the novel species delineated and described. A total of 31 new specimens were collected from the Amathole Mountains in the Eastern Cape while a further 12 specimens were collected from Mount Currie Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. These samples together with selected specimens from the DNA study material were subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the presence of diagnostic morphological characters that could potentially be utilised in the delineation of the four novel lineages. The species diagnosis of P. moseleyi (Wood-Mason, 1879) is elucidated and amended since the original type description is inadequate and could apply to several Peripatopsis taxa. A neotype for P. moseleyi is designated because the syntypes appear lost. Four new species of Peripatopsis Pocock, 1894 are described; viz. Peripatopsis birgeri, sp. nov., P. hamerae, sp. nov., P. janni, sp. nov. and P. storchi, sp. nov.

Additional keywords: genetic and morphological variation, integrative taxonomy, neotype designation, novel species, South Africa.


References

Bickford, D., Lohman, D. J., Lohman, N. S., Sodhi, N. S., Ng, P. K. L., Meier, R., Winker, K., Ingram, K. K., and Das, I. (2007). Cryptic species as a window on diversity and conservation. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 22, 148–155.
Cryptic species as a window on diversity and conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bouvier, E. L. (1905). Monographie des Onychophores. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie 2, 1–383; pl. II, fig. 7.; pl. III, fig.18; pl.XII, fig. 112–113. Paris.

Bouvier, E. L. (1907). Monographie des Onychophores. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie 5, 101–116, figs 157–159. Paris.

Choonoo, D. (1947). A review of the morphology and histology of the reproductive system of Peripatopsis moseleyi, with a few notes on Opisthopatus cinctipes var. amatolensis. Fort Hare Papers 1, 71–119.

Daniels, S. R., and Ruhberg, H. (2010). Molecular and morphological variation in a South African velvet worm Peripatopsis moseleyi (Onychophora, Peripatopsidae): evidence for cryptic speciation. Journal of Zoology 282, 171–179.
Molecular and morphological variation in a South African velvet worm Peripatopsis moseleyi (Onychophora, Peripatopsidae): evidence for cryptic speciation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Daniels, S. R., Picker, M. D., Cowlin, R. W., and Hamer, M. (2009). Unravelling evolutionary lineages among South African velvet worms (Onychophora: Peripatopsis) provides evidence for widespread cryptic speciation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Linnean Society of London 97, 200–216.
Unravelling evolutionary lineages among South African velvet worms (Onychophora: Peripatopsis) provides evidence for widespread cryptic speciation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dayrat, B. (2005). Towards integrative taxonomy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Linnean Society of London 85, 407–415.
Towards integrative taxonomy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Endrödy-Younga, S., and Peck, S. B. (1983). Onychophora from mesic grassveld in South Africa (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae). Annals of the Transvaal Museum 33, 347–352.

Grube, E. (1866). Peripatus capensis n. sp. Jahresberichte der schlesischen Gesellschaft vaterländischer Cultur 34, 65–66.

Hamer, M. L., Samways, M. J., and Ruhberg, H. (1997). A review of the Onychophora of South Africa, with discussion of their conservation. Annals of the Natal Museum 38, 283–312.

Hebert, P. D. N., Billington, N., Finston, T. L., Boileau, M. G., Beaton, M. J., and Barrette, J. (1991). Genetic variation in the onychophoran Plicatoperipatus jamaicensis. Heredity 67, 221–229.
Genetic variation in the onychophoran Plicatoperipatus jamaicensis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Herbert, D. G., and Moussalli, A. (2010). Revision of the larger cannibal snails (Natalina s. l.) of southern Africa – Natalina s. s., Afrorhytida and Capitina (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Rhytididae). African Invertebrates 51, 1–132.
Revision of the larger cannibal snails (Natalina s. l.) of southern Africa – Natalina s. s., Afrorhytida and Capitina (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Rhytididae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hofmann, K. (1988). Observations on Peripatopsis clavigera (Onychophora, Peripatopsidae). South African Journal of Zoology 23, 255–258.

Manton, S. M. (1938). Studies on the Onychophora. V. Onychophora found in Cape Colony. Annals & Magazine of Natural History 1, 476–480.
Studies on the Onychophora. V. Onychophora found in Cape Colony.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McDonald, D. E., Ruhberg, H., and Daniels, S. R. (2012). Two new Peripatopsis species (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) from the Western Cape province, South Africa. Zootaxa 3380, 55–68.

Oliviera, I. S., Wieloch, A. H., and Mayer, G. (2010). Revised taxonomy and re-description of two new species of the Peripatidae (Onychophora) from Brazil: a step towards consistent terminology of morphological characters. Zootaxa 2492, 16–34.

Pocock, R. J. (1894). Contributions to our knowledge of the arthropod fauna of the West Indies. II: Malacopoda or Protracheata. Journal of the Linnean Society (Zoology) 24, 518–524.

Purcell, W. F. (1899). On the South African species of Peripatidae in the collection of the South African Museum. Annals of the South African Museum 1, 331–351.

Purcell, W. F. (1900). On the anatomy of Opisthopatus cintipes Purcell, with notes on other, principally South African Onychophora. Annals of the South African Museum 2, 67–116.

Read, V. M. St. J. (1988). The application of scanning electron microscopy to the systematics of the neotropical Peripatidae (Onychophora). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 93, 187–223.
The application of scanning electron microscopy to the systematics of the neotropical Peripatidae (Onychophora).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reid, A. L. (1996). Review of the Peripatopsidae (Onychophora) in Australia, with comments on peripatopsid relationships. Invertebrate Taxonomy 10, 663–936.
Review of the Peripatopsidae (Onychophora) in Australia, with comments on peripatopsid relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reid, A. L., Tait, N. N., Briscoe, D. A., and Rowell, D. M. (1995). Morphological, cytogenetic and allozymic variation within Cephalofovea (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) with descriptions of three new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 114, 115–138.
Morphological, cytogenetic and allozymic variation within Cephalofovea (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) with descriptions of three new species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rowell, D. M., Higgins, A. V., Briscoe, D. A., and Tait, N. N. (1995). The use of chromosomal data in the systematics of viviparous onychophorans from Australia (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 114, 139–153.
The use of chromosomal data in the systematics of viviparous onychophorans from Australia (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ruhberg, H. (1985). Die Peripatopsidae (Onychophora). Systematik, Ökologie, Chorologie und phylogenetische Aspekte. Zoologica (Ed. F. Schaller). Heft 137, 1–183. E. Schweitzerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nägele u. Obermiller). Stuttgart.

Ruhberg, H. (1992). “Peripatus” – an Approach towards a Modern Monograph. Berichte naturwissenschaftlich-medizinischer Verein Innsbruck. Suppl. 10, 441–458.

Ruhberg, H., and Hamer, M. (2005). A new species of Opisthopatus (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Zootaxa 1039, 27–38.

Sedgwick, A. (1885). The development of Peripatus capensis. Part I. The Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 25, 449–468.

Sedgwick, A. (1888a). A monograph of the species and distribution of the genus Peripatus. The Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 28, 432–493.

Sedgwick, A. (1888b). A monograph of the species and distribution of the genus Peripatus. Chapter II: The South African Species. Studies from the Morphological Laboratory, Cambridge 4, 146–212.

Sedgwick, A. (1908). The distribution and classification of the Onychophora. The Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 52, 379–406.

Sherbon, B. J., and Walker, M. H. (2004). A new species of Peripatopsis from South Africa, P. stelliporata, with observations on embryonic development and sperm degradation (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae). Journal of Zoology 264, 295–305.
A new species of Peripatopsis from South Africa, P. stelliporata, with observations on embryonic development and sperm degradation (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wood-Mason, J. (1879). Morphological notes bearing on the origin of insects. Transactions of the Entomological Society (London) 2, 155.