Pauropoda
Pauropods are small terrestrial Myriapods. There are over 700 species of pauropods worldwide and are classified into two different orders Hexamerocerata and Tetramerocerata [1]. Fossils of pauropods have only been found from the time of Baltic Amber onward.
Pauropoda Orders
Hexamerocerata
Hexamercocerata have 6-segments and are strongly telescopic antennal stalk, a 12-segmented trunk, and 11 pairs of legs. Most members of this group are long, larger than other groups, and normally white. The only family in this order, Millotauropodidae, only has one genus [2].
Tetramerocerata
Tetramaerocerata have 4-segments and are scarcely telescipic antennal stalk, 6 tergites, and 8-10 pairs of legs. Most members of this order are small and are either white or brown. Most of the species in this order have 9 pairs of legs when they become adults. There are four families in this order, Pauropodidae which is the largest fmaily, Afrauropodidae, Brachypauropodidae, and Eurypauropodidae [3].
Anatomy
Pauropodas are small (0.5-2.0 mm) terrestrial myriapods with a flexable trunk, and have 8-11 pairs of legs [5]. There head is small and directed downwards and has no eyes, instead they use sensory organs found on there antennae. There distinct feature is there branched antennae, one of the branches is there sensory organ (globulus), a second branch is the pseudoculi which is an eye like structure, and the third branch there is the trichobothria which is used to detect airborne vibrations and currents [4]. Behind there last segment is there anal segment, called the pygidium, and this segment is horizontally divided. Due to its structure this plate is used for identification, each species can be identified by this even at larvae stages [5].
Habitat, Diet, and Collection Methods
Hexamerocerata are found strictly in tropical habitats, while Tetramerocerata are found all of the world. For most species little is known about there eating habits, but some are said to mold or suck out fungal hyphae, there is also at least one species that can eat root hairs [6]. The most common way to collect pauropods is by using Berlese (Tullgren) Funnels.
Reproduction
Pauropods are bisexual and progoneate, this means that there genital opening is placed near the anterior part of there body. In unfavorable environments sometimes parthenogenetic reproduction can occur. There eggs are developed in a short pupoid stage before the first larval instar appears (reference 2). Hexaerocerata the first larval instar has six pairs of legs. Tetramerocerata the first larval instar has three pairs of legs, then is followed by instars of five, six, and eight pairs of legs. Adults will have eight, nine, or ten pairs of legs 2.
References
1. Andrew Austin, E. F.-J., s Mark Harvey, Mike Hodda, John Jennings, Claire Stephens, Erich Volschenk, David Yates. Key to Australian Freshwater and Terrestrial Invertebrates. https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/TFI/start%20key/key/myriapoda%20key/Media/HTML/Pauropoda.html
2. Scheller, U. 2004. Pauropoda (Pauropods). Pages 375-377 in M. Hutchins, R. W. Garrison, V. Geist, P. V. Loiselle, N. Schlager, M. C. McDade, D. Olendorf, A. V. Evans, J. A. Jackson, D. G. Kleiman, J. B. Murphy, D. A. Thoney, W. J. Bock, S. F. Craig, and W. E. Duellman, editors. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Gale, Detroit, MI. http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3406700133/GVRL?u=sunybuff_main&sid=GVRL&xid=a1db1709
3. Scheller, U. 2004. Pauropoda (Pauropods). Pages 375-377 in M. Hutchins, R. W. Garrison, V. Geist, P. V. Loiselle, N. Schlager, M. C. McDade, D. Olendorf, A. V. Evans, J. A. Jackson, D. G. Kleiman, J. B. Murphy, D. A. Thoney, W. J. Bock, S. F. Craig, and W. E. Duellman, editors. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Gale, Detroit, MI. http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3406700133/GVRL?u=sunybuff_main&sid=GVRL&xid=a1db1709
4. Shear, W. A., and G. D. Edgecombe. 2010. The geological record and phylogeny of the Myriapoda. Arthropod Structure & Development 39:174-190. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1467803909000887
5. Scheller, U. 2004. Pauropoda (Pauropods). Pages 375-377 in M. Hutchins, R. W. Garrison, V. Geist, P. V. Loiselle, N. Schlager, M. C. McDade, D. Olendorf, A. V. Evans, J. A. Jackson, D. G. Kleiman, J. B. Murphy, D. A. Thoney, W. J. Bock, S. F. Craig, and W. E. Duellman, editors. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Gale, Detroit, MI. http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3406700133/GVRL?u=sunybuff_main&sid=GVRL&xid=a1db1709
6. Scheller, U. 2004. Pauropoda (Pauropods). Pages 375-377 in M. Hutchins, R. W. Garrison, V. Geist, P. V. Loiselle, N. Schlager, M. C. McDade, D. Olendorf, A. V. Evans, J. A. Jackson, D. G. Kleiman, J. B. Murphy, D. A. Thoney, W. J. Bock, S. F. Craig, and W. E. Duellman, editors. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Gale, Detroit, MI. http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3406700133/GVRL?u=sunybuff_main&sid=GVRL&xid=a1db1709
7. David Coleman, M. C., D. Crossley, Jr. 2017. Fundamentals of Soil Ecology. Third edition. Candice Janco, Academic Press.
4. Shear, W. A., and G. D. Edgecombe. 2010. The geological record and phylogeny of the Myriapoda. Arthropod Structure & Development 39:174-190. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1467803909000887