Extension of the northern distribution of Onychophora in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
In: Biotemas: Florianopolis. ISSN 0103-1643, more
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| Author keywords |
: Onychophora, distribution, biodiversity conservation, Atlantic Forest, Neotropical region |
| Authors | | Top |
- Santana, G.G.
- Almeida, W.O.
- Alves, R.R.N.
- Vasconcellos, A.
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| Abstract |
The Onychophora represent a rare group of invertebrates whose phylogenetic position is important in understanding the origin and evolution of the arthropods. These animals generally inhabit humid tropical forests and caves, and can vary in size from 2.5-20cm. The present study reports the occurrence of an onychophoran belonging to the genus Peripatus. The specimen was collected fortuitously in June, 2007, at Mata do Açude Cafundó (07º10’49”S and 35º05’39”W), a remnant area of Atlantic Forest situated in the municipality of Cruz do Espírito Santo, Paraíba State, northeastern Brazil. This represents the fi rst report of an onychophoran from a remnant forest area in Paraíba, extending the northern distribution of this taxon, and is only the seventh report of an onychophoran in an Atlantic Forest remnant north of the mouth of the São Francisco River. A data bank will be needed in order to adequately document the distributions, population sizes, degrees of isolation, and habitat quality of known species of onychophorans from this sector of the Atlantic Forest. |
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