Sistemática de Aphelidesmidae Brölemann, 1916 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida)

Abstract

Aphelidesmidae is a family of neotropical diplopods of Polydesmida. This family was proposed after many uncertainties regarding the position of Aphelidesmus, the type species of the family. Currently, Aphelidesmidae is known as the sister group of Platyrhacidae, forming the Platyrhacoidea group. Aphelidesmidae has approximately 160 species, distributed in 17 genera and two subfamilies, Amplininae and Aphelidesminae. Since its elevation as a family, no analysis of its monophyly has yet been proposed. This work sought to test the monophyly of Aphelidesmidae through a cladistic analysis using morphological data from male specimens. A matrix with 63 taxa and 81 characters was analyzed using a maximum parsimony analysis. As a result of this work, Platyrhacoidea and Aphelidesmidae were recovered. Amplininae was not recovered in the analysis. On the other hand, Aphelidesminae was recovered with nine synapomorphies. All the genera of Aphelidesmidae were recovered, except for Amplinus, Pycnotropis and Ochrotropis. Amplinus, due to its great morphological variation and instability regarding its species composition, emerged as polyphyletic. The genus Pycnotropis is paraphyletic, with Pastazina having a varied position in the clades. Illustrations, diagnoses and a taxonomic key for Aphelidesmidae genera, based on males, are also presented. In addition, a catalog was made to find out the exact number of species and genera valid for the family.