A new giant velvet worm from Costa Rica suggests absence of the genus Peripatus (Onychophora: Peripatidae) in Central America

Abstract

Introduction: Neotropical onychophoran taxonomy and diversity has been poorly investigated. Recent studies have discovered problems in species classification: they have questioned the accepted genera and the actual number of species. This is true in Costa Rica, where several unidentified species have been reported. Objective: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the occurrence of the accepted genera in this country, and to describe a new genus and species from Central America. Methods: In 2017, we collected one onychophoran in the Keköldi Indigenous Reserve in Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica. The specimen gave birth to several offspring. Therefore, seven organisms were analyzed. Light microscopy was used to observe the gross morphology in all samples. The detailed morphology was studied in the biggest specimen with scanning electron microscopy; after that, we performed a phylogenetic analysis with the corresponding sequence of COI. Results: According to our results, a new genus and species of giant onychophoran was found. The genus was identified by its giant size, apical piece of seven scale ranks, large conical primary papillae, dorso-median furrow flanked by two-three accessory papillae, the absence of hyaline organs and a marked sexual dimorphism with respect to the number of legs. The new species presents a particular head pattern, as well as novel structures like cephalic papillae, accessory papillae with rudimentary apical pieces, and a lack of antennal chemoreceptors. Phylogenetic analysis rendered our genus as monophyletic and includes Peripatus solorzanoi, which is grouped within the Central American clade. As our species is clustered inside the Costa Rica-Panamanian group, it is not related to the Caribbean Island nor Guyanan Shield samples, home of Epiperipatus and Peripatus respectively. Therefore, we suggest that those genera do not occur in Central America, and a new genus exists: Mongeperipatus, gen. nov. Conclusion: We concluded that Costa Rica is home to a diversity of undescribed onychophorans that requires specific studies to help clarify the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of the group to justify their protection.

Panamanian velvet worms in the genus Epiperipatus, with notes on their taxonomy and distribution and the description of a new species (Onychophora, Peripatidae)

“…D. Primary papilla, specimen MZUSP 0088; note the scale ranks on the basal piece. Scale bars: A = 1 mm, B and D = 20 µm, C = 200 µm the flanks and furrows between plicae, similar to the arrangement found in Mongeperipatus kekoldiBarquero-González et al 2020, Epiperipatus sucuriuensis (oliveira et al 2015, E. evansiBouvier 1904, E. tucupi FroehliCh 1968, and E. imthurni (sClater 1888.…”

Ngāokeoke Aotearoa: The Peripatoides Onychophora of New Zealand

“…Cryptic diversity within extant Onychophora is not unique to New Zealand, and molecular studies of the onychophorans endemic to Australia, south and central America, and South Africa continue to reveal hidden biodiversity (e.g., [57][58][59][60]). Some Australian taxa display secondary reproductive traits that aid recognition [61][62][63], but in many cases, low character variation is the norm.…”

A new species of velvet worm of the genus Oroperipatus (Onychophora, Peripatidae) from western Amazonia

“…nov. with other species of Andean peripatids. It is necessary to explore the morphological diversity of Oroperipatus due to its usefulness in onychophoran taxonomy (Oliveira et al 2012;Barquero González et al 2020).…”

“…Oroperipatus is characterised by four or more foot papillae and a nephridial tubercle on legs IV and V inserted in a complete third spinous pad (Bouvier 1905;Clark 1913;. While knowledge of the diversity of Caribbean peripatids has significantly increased (e.g., Morera-Brenes and Nájera 2010; Costa et al 2018;Barquero González et al 2020;, the most recent descriptions of Oroperipatus species date back over 70 years (du Bois-Reymond Marcus 1952). Currently, twenty species of Oroperipatus are known from México, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, with a wide altitudinal range from the Pacific coast to the high Andes and the Amazonian lowlands (Bouvier 1905, Fuhrmann 1915Clark and Zetek 1946;Sampaio-Costa et al 2009;Oliveira 2023).…”