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Pauropoda
Common names:
pauropods
Probability of
encounter: medium
Quarantine importance:
no known importance.
Similarity to mites:
none other than
small size. The presence of a head with trifurcate antennae and a trunk
with repeated leg-bearing segments should distinguish pauropods from mites.
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Morphology
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- Normal adult length:
0.5-2 mm
Body tagmata: head, trunk
Eyes: absent
Antennae: bifurcate (triflagellate), branches terminating in 1 and
2 flagella
Mouthparts: entognathous mandibles, maxillae
Legs: 3-11 pairs (8 pairs normal in adults)
Respiration: cuticular
Gonopore: venter of 3rd trunk segment
Distinguishing features: myriapod form; triflagellate antennae; paired
marginal trichobothria on 5 trunk segments.
Comments: Pauropods have a head with bifurcate antennae bearing 3 flagella. The antennae
have a 4-6 segmented stalk with 2 distal branches. One branch bears two annulate
flagella on either side of a sensory structure resembling a ball in a spiny
cup (globulus). The other branch has a single annulate flagellum.
The trunk is 12-segmented in the adult. Vestigial limbs may be present on
the 1st segment, but no limbs are found on last segment. Adults have 8-11
pairs of legs and the gonopores between 2nd pair of legs. Legs are 5-segmented
and end in a large median + 2 small lateral claws or a lobed pad + a median
claw or a single claw.
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Diversity: < 400 species in 5
families.
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References
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Tree of Life -
http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Pauropoda&contgroup=Arthropoda
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- Edwards, CA. 1990. Pauropoda.
pp. 861-890, in DL Dindal (ed), Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley &
Sons: Brisbane.