Japygidae

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Japygidae
Habit of a member of the genus Japyx

Habit of a member of the genus Japyx

Systematics
Over trunk : Molting animals (Ecdysozoa)
Trunk : Arthropod (arthropoda)
Superclass : Six-footed (Hexapoda)
Order : Double tails (diplura)
Class : Sackkiefler (Entognatha)
Family : Japygidae
Scientific name
Japygidae
Haliday , 1864

The Japygidae are a family within the double tails (Diplura). Compared to other double tails, the predominantly predatory Japygidae are characterized by the abdominal appendages, cerci , which are transformed into powerful pincers . The species are widespread worldwide and are found mainly in subtropical to tropical areas, where they mainly live in litter or under tree bark. Some of the species are cave dwellers (troglobionts).

features

The Japygidae, like all double- tailed arthropods , have an elongated body. The head has a pair of long articulated antennas made up of numerous uniform limbs . As is typical for the double tails, the piercing to piercing-scraping mouthparts are located in a head capsule typical of the Sackkiefler (Entognatha), eyes are not present.

The three-part chest area is equipped with three pairs of legs, the legs usually have two well-formed claws. The abdomen consists of 10 segments, the first seven of which have short remnants of extremities (styli) on the underside with evertable coxal vesicles. The last three abdominal segments have no leg rudiments, the genital opening is at the rear edge of the 8th abdominal sternite. The last segment of the abdomen is usually somewhat larger than the one in front of it and bears the cerci , which are typical of the family and which have been transformed into powerful grasping forceps .

The body of the Japygidae, which usually live in litter or underground, also in caves, is usually white to yellowish. They are usually a few millimeters to a few centimeters long.

Distribution areas

The Japygidae are distributed worldwide in temperate, subtropical and tropical climates. They occur on all continents with the exception of Antarctica . The main distribution is in warmer regions, so only a few species occur in Central Europe. In Germany species of a few heat-loving genera are common, including about Metajapyx leruthi Silvestri and Dipljapyx humberti (Grassi) .

Way of life

Japygidae, like all double tails, live mainly in litter, under tree bark and in the upper soil layers of various habitats. Numerous species live in the deeper layers of the soil, and many more are cave dwellers . They are predatory and feed mainly on smaller arthropods such as mites , springtails , small beetles and other insects.

Systematics

The Japygidae were in 1864 by the British entomologist Alexander Henry Haliday , together with the type genus Japyx as a separate family within the Diplura described . Today the family is divided into about 70 genera, some of which only contain one or a few species:

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c A. Palissa: Diplura double tails. In: Exkursionsfauna von Deutschland, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag 2011; S 42. doi : 10.1007 / 978-3-8274-2452-5_6 , ISBN 978-3-8274-2451-8

Web links

Commons : Japygidae  - collection of images, videos and audio files