Phenopelopidae

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Classis: Arachnida
Subclassis: Acari
Superordo: Acariformes
Ordo: Oribatida
Infraordo: Desmonomata
Subordo: Brachypylina
Infraordo: Poronoticae
Superfamilia: Phenopelopoidea

Familia: Phenopelopidae
Genera: Eupelops – Nesopelops – Peloptulus – Propelops

[source: Subías (April 2009)]
Name

Phenopelopidae Petrunkevitch, 1955

Synonyms

Pelopidae Ewing, 1917 [nec Gistl, 1834]
Propelopinae Norton & Behan-Pelletier, 1986

References

Norton, R.A.; Behan-Pelletier, V.M. 1986: Systematic relationships of Propelops, with a modification of family-group taxa in Phenopelopoidea (Acari: Orbatida). Canadian journal of zoology, 64: 2370–2383. DOI: 10.1139/z86-353
Seniczak, A., Seniczak, S., Kaczmarek, S. & Kowalski, J. 2014. Ontogeny of morphological traits in Phenopelopidae (Acari: Oribatida). International journal of acarology 40(8): 611-637. DOI: 10.1080/01647954.2014.975744 Paywall. Reference page.
Subías, L.S. 2004: Listado sistemático, sinonímico y biogeográfico de los ácaros oribátidos (Acariformes, Oribatida) del mundo (1758-2002). Graellsia, 60 (extra. 1): 3–305.

Links

Subías, L.S.: LISTADO SISTEMÁTICO, SINONÍMICO Y BIOGEOGRÁFICO DE LOS ÁCAROS ORIBÁTIDOS (ACARIFORMES: ORIBATIDA) DEL MUNDO (Excepto fósiles) Version: April 2009

Phenopelopidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes.[1][2][3][4] As of 2018, there were 4 genera and 106 species known in this family.[5]
Description

Adult mites of this family are 400-900 μm long and usually dark brown to almost black in colour, but light brown individuals also occur. They can be distinguished from other oribatid families by: flat and blade-like lamellae (ridges of cuticle between the dorsal trichobothria); elongate pelopsiform or normally developed chelicerae with small chelae; notogaster with a broad anterior tectum, overhanging insertions of interlamellar setae and bothridia; with movable pteromorphs and well- or poorly-circumscribed lenticulus; porose areas small or rarely with saccules, all closely associated with some of the notogastral setae; with eight or 10 pairs of notogastral setae; and custodium broad.[5][6]

The juvenile stages (larvae and nymphs) differ from adults in being smaller, soft-bodied, light brown and having plicate (folded or crumpled) cuticle. However, juveniles have only been studied for a few species of Phenopelopidae.[5][6]

These mites are covered in numerous setae, which vary among species and among life stages within species. A typical feature of Phenopelopidae is the presence of long, thick setae on some leg segments. Juveniles of some species have long marginal setae, possibly as protection against small predators.[6]
Ecology

Phenopelopidae have been collected from leaf litter underneath trees, moss, a forest meadow, at the edge of a bog, grass and woodland.[5][6][7][8] They appear to be fungal feeders, but at least one species can feed on living plant material.[8]
Genera

Below is a list of the genera in this family, along with their authorities, years of publication and distributions.[5]

Eupelops Ewing, 1917 - cosmopolitan
Nesopelops Hammer, 1973 - Oceanic, Oriental
Peloptulus Berlese, 1908 - Holarctic, Neotropical, Oriental
Propelops Jacot, 1937 - Holarctic

References

"Phenopelopidae Family Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
"Phenopelopidae Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
"Phenopelopidae Overview". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
"Browse Phenopelopidae". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
Bayartogtokh, Badamdorj; Ermilov, Sergey G.; Shtanchaeva, Umukusum Ya.; Subías, Luis S. (2018-01-31). "Ontogeny of morphological traits in Eupelops variatus (Mihelčič, 1957), with remarks on juveniles of Phenopelopidae (Acari: Oribatida)". Systematic and Applied Acarology. 23 (1): 161. doi:10.11158/saa.23.1.13. ISSN 1362-1971. S2CID 90915373.
Seniczak, Anna; Seniczak, Stanisław; Kaczmarek, Sławomir; Kowalski, Jarosław (2014-11-17). "Ontogeny of morphological traits in Phenopelopidae (Acari: Oribatida)". International Journal of Acarology. 40 (8): 611–637. doi:10.1080/01647954.2014.975744. ISSN 0164-7954. S2CID 83857359.
Seniczak, Anna; Seniczak, Stanisław; Kaczmarek, Sławomir (2015-01-02). "Morphology, distribution and ecology of Eupelops curtipilus and Eupelops plicatus (Acari, Oribatida, Phenopelopidae)". International Journal of Acarology. 41 (1): 77–95. doi:10.1080/01647954.2014.986523. ISSN 0164-7954. S2CID 85095772.

"Australian Faunal Directory". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-10-24.