Contribution to the knowledge of Diplopoda: a phylogenetic approach to the family Rhinocricidae (Diplopoda, Spirobolida)

• Grant number: 23/15816-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Domingos Brescovit
• Grantee: Patrícia Elesbão da Silva Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Rhinocricidae family is the most numerous of the order Spirobolida, currently has 33 genera with more than 575 species described and distributed almost entirely in the Neotropical Region. It is currently divided into three subfamilies: Rhinocricinae Brölemann, 1913; Oxypyginae Chamberlin, 1922 and Poecilocricinae Schubart, 1962. Until today, only 16 genera have been included in any of these subfamilies, the others continue with their undefined status, due to doubts about the diagnostic characteristics that define them. Taxonomic and mainly phylogenetic works involving representatives of the family are almost non-existent, most of the genera were proposed based only on few differences in male genitalia, making it impossible to separate them based on their diagnostic characters. This project aims to perform a cladistic analysis based on morphological data in order to test the monophyly of Rhinocricidae and establish the phylogenetic relationships between the genera. From the results of the analysis, it will be possible to know the synapomorphies of the group, test the validity of existing subfamilies, or even propose new subfamilies. Knowing the existing internal relationships proposing new diagnoses that help in the correct delimitation of the genera. In addition, to contribute to the expansion of the distribution of some species. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ELESBAO SILVA RODRIGUES, PATRICIA; CAMPOS, LUIZ ALEXANDRE; VALIATI, VICTOR HUGO; DOMINGOS BRESCOVIT, ANTONIO; LOPES RODRIGUES, EVERTON NEI. Phylogenetic analysis of the millipede genus Argentocricus Verhoeff, 1941 (Spirobolida, Rhinocricidae) based on morphological characters. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, v. N/A, p. 19-pg., 2024-12-21. (23/15816-8)