Phenopelopidae
| Phenopelopidae Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Oribatida |
| Superfamily: | Phenopelopoidea |
| Family: | Phenopelopidae Petrunkevitch, 1955 |
Phenopelopidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes.[1][2][3][4] As of 2018, there were 4 genera and 106 species known in this family.[5]
Description[edit]
Adult mites of this family are 400-900 μm long and usually dark brown to almost black in colour, but light brown individuals also occur. They can be distinguished from other oribatid families by: flat and blade-like lamellae (ridges of cuticle between the dorsal trichobothria); elongate pelopsiform or normally developed chelicerae with small chelae; notogaster with a broad anterior tectum, overhanging insertions of interlamellar setae and bothridia; with movable pteromorphs and well- or poorly-circumscribed lenticulus; porose areas small or rarely with saccules, all closely associated with some of the notogastral setae; with eight or 10 pairs of notogastral setae; and custodium broad.[5][6]
The juvenile stages (larvae and nymphs) differ from adults in being smaller, soft-bodied, light brown and having plicate (folded or crumpled) cuticle. However, juveniles have only been studied for a few species of Phenopelopidae.[5][6]
These mites are covered in numerous setae, which vary among species and among life stages within species. A typical feature of Phenopelopidae is the presence of long, thick setae on some leg segments. Juveniles of some species have long marginal setae, possibly as protection against small predators.[6]
Ecology[edit]
Phenopelopidae have been collected from leaf litter underneath trees, moss, a forest meadow, at the edge of a bog, grass and woodland.[5][6][7][8] They appear to be fungal feeders, but at least one species can feed on living plant material.[8]
Genera[edit]
Below is a list of the genera in this family, along with their authorities, years of publication and distributions.[5]
- Eupelops Ewing, 1917 - cosmopolitan
- Nesopelops Hammer, 1973 - Oceanic, Oriental
- Peloptulus Berlese, 1908 - Holarctic, Neotropical, Oriental
- Propelops Jacot, 1937 - Holarctic
References[edit]
- ^ "Phenopelopidae Family Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
- ^ "Phenopelopidae Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
- ^ "Phenopelopidae Overview". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
- ^ "Browse Phenopelopidae". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
- ^ a b c d e Bayartogtokh, Badamdorj; Ermilov, Sergey G.; Shtanchaeva, Umukusum Ya.; Subías, Luis S. (2018-01-31). "Ontogeny of morphological traits in Eupelops variatus (Mihelčič, 1957), with remarks on juveniles of Phenopelopidae (Acari: Oribatida)". Systematic and Applied Acarology. 23 (1): 161. doi:10.11158/saa.23.1.13. ISSN 1362-1971. S2CID 90915373.
- ^ a b c d Seniczak, Anna; Seniczak, Stanisław; Kaczmarek, Sławomir; Kowalski, Jarosław (2014-11-17). "Ontogeny of morphological traits in Phenopelopidae (Acari: Oribatida)". International Journal of Acarology. 40 (8): 611–637. doi:10.1080/01647954.2014.975744. ISSN 0164-7954. S2CID 83857359.
- ^ Seniczak, Anna; Seniczak, Stanisław; Kaczmarek, Sławomir (2015-01-02). "Morphology, distribution and ecology of Eupelops curtipilus and Eupelops plicatus (Acari, Oribatida, Phenopelopidae)". International Journal of Acarology. 41 (1): 77–95. doi:10.1080/01647954.2014.986523. ISSN 0164-7954. S2CID 85095772.
- ^ a b "Australian Faunal Directory". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
Further reading[edit]
- Breene, R.G.; Dean, D. Allen; Edwards, G.B.; Hebert, Blain; Levi, Herbert W.; Manning, Gail (2003). Common Names of Arachnids. Vol. Fifth Edition. American Tarantula Society. ISBN 1-929427-11-5.
- Capinera, John L., ed. (2008). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer. ISBN 978-1402062421.
- Jackman, John A. (2002). A Field Guide to Spiders and Scorpions of Texas. Gulf Publishing.
- Krantz, G.W.; Walter, D.E., eds. (2009). A Manual of Acarology. Vol. 3rd Edition. Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 9780896726208.