The Myriapoda & Onychophora collection (MY) of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN - Paris)

Jean-Paul Mauriès

doi:10.15468/eq1kml

The Myriapoda & Onychophora collection (MY) of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN - Paris)

Citation

Mauriès J, Chagnoux S (2024). The Myriapoda & Onychophora collection (MY) of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN - Paris). Version 74.396. MNHN - Museum national d'Histoire naturelle. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/eq1kml accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-14.

Description

Established in the second half of the 19th century, the MNHN’s collections of myriapods and onychophorans are still stored as one collection, mostly for historical and practical reasons. The myriapods section is a major collection for myriapodology worldwide, all the groups it includes, and its history. The material comes from all around the world and belongs to the classes Pauropoda (2 extant orders), Symphyla, Chilopoda (5 extant orders) and Diplopoda (16 extant orders), collected from most of the terrestrial ecosystems. About 5000 species of myriapods are represented in the collections, including a high number of historical samples. The myriapods collection comprises 300 000 to 400 000 specimens. Nearly half of it constitutes the reference collection, the other half, which includes a potentially important amount of taxa yet unknown to science, is awaiting further studies. The reference collection gathers about 25 000 to 30 000 batches, each containing from 1 to more than 300 specimens, stored into 4639 jars. The reference collection includes about 3 000 to 3 500 batches containing altogether 15 000 to 20 000 type specimens. To date, the MNHN-MY dataset has gathered 9 795 batches of myriapods, consisting of 63 617 specimens, which represents 33% to 40% of the reference collection. The Onychophorans collection, contains invaluable historical material, such as type specimens of species described by Bouvier in the 1900s. The MNHN’s collection of Onychophorans (commonly known as velvet worms) is one of the world’s most important for this group. Although only a small phylum, it is of key importance in several aspects within the Metazoa, particularly regarding phylogenetic relationships between arthropods and other invertebrates (Oliveira & al. 2012). The collection boasts almost a hundred species, represented by 202 batches containing 279 specimens and 43 dissections. This collection is stored into 67 jars. It includes 56 batches containing altogether 73 nomenclatural types (plus 2 dissections of types). This part of the collection is fully databased and included in the MNHN-MY dataset, and has been since used for studies on the group (Oliveira & al. 2012).

Sampling Description

Study Extent

This collection is mainly used for studies on systematics and classification of myriapods and onychophorans. In regards to its size, its composition and the amount of nomenclatural type specimens it contains, it is a major collection for the studied fields. Moreover, it has revealed an important number of unexpected new taxa within its less studied parts. The collection from France and the Mediterranean areas, particularly Spain, have been extensively studied.

Sampling

As we mentioned above, the specimens deposited at the MNHN-MY collection come from various regions of the world, and were collected during different periods. Consequently, no single sampling protocol can be distinguished. Moreover, for most of the specimens, the sampling methodology is unknown, even if largely suspected to be direct hand collection. The aims of collecting and the associated supply put at the disposal of field collectors have indeed evolved much since the early ages of this collection.

Method steps

As we mentioned above, the specimens deposited at the MNHN-MY collection come from various regions of the world, and were collected during different periods. Consequently, no single sampling protocol can be distinguished. Moreover, for most of the specimens, the sampling methodology is unknown, even if largely suspected to be direct hand collection. The aims of collecting and the associated supply put at the disposal of field collectors have indeed evolved much since the early ages of this collection.

Taxonomic Coverages

As depicted in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the dataset reflects the scientific activities of the researchers doing the digitization. Consequently, even though the collection taxonomically covers the whole myriapods and onychophorans, the dataset actually contains a majority of millipedes, and the totality of the onychophorans. As a result of this work in the last decades, these two collections are also more scattered than the others, with less specimens per batch, as depicted in Figure 3. The taxonomy used in this dataset reflects the one used in the collection. Similarly to most of the big historical collections it is in many ways outdated, and would be nearly impossible to update (Soberón & al. 2002, Gaston & al. 1992, Alroy 2002). Cross-checking it with taxonomical datasets such as the dataset NCBI taxonomy is then an important step while using it (ECAT development publisher). The Onychophorans collection contains 48 species plus 7 subspecies within 15 genera of the two actual families.

Animalia
common name: animal rank: kingdom
Arthropoda
common name: arthropod rank: phylum
Onychophora
common name: velvet worm rank: phylum
Chilopoda
common name: centipede rank: class
Diplopoda
common name: millipede rank: class
Pauropoda
rank: class
Symphyla
rank: class
Udeonychophora
rank: class
Euonychophora
rank: order
Geophilomorpha
rank: order
Lithobiomorpha
rank: order
Scolopendromorpha
rank: order
Scutigeromorpha
rank: order
Callipodida
rank: order
Chordeumatida
rank: order
Glomerida
rank: order
Glomeridesmida
rank: order
Julida
rank: order
Platydesmida
rank: order
Polydesmida
rank: order
Polyxenida
rank: order
Polyzoniida
rank: order
Siphonophorida
rank: order
Sphaerotheriida
rank: order
Spirobolida
rank: order
Spirostreptida
rank: order
Stemmiulida
rank: order
Tetramerocerata
rank: order

Geographic Coverages

To date, no batches from this dataset have been georeferenced. Contemporary administrative countries, corresponding to where the specimens have been sampled, have however been included when possible. Although imperfect for biodiversity studies, an image of the collection events repartition using the ISO 3166 (ISO 2014), can be given. The two main parts of the collection have a different spatial repartition, due in part to the distribution of the taxa represented, but also to a different history. The myriapod dataset is a collection for “metropolitan France and the world”. Indeed, ca. 56.80% of the batches were collected in metropolitan France, but these batches represent ca. 72.64% of the total number of specimens in the collection. This can be explained by the fact that the number of specimens per batch collected in metropolitan France is significantly higher than the average number of specimens per batch for the rest of the world, including the French overseas territories. Even though the metropolitan French collection has been extensively studied (and consequently its batches have been split numerous times), they are still, on average, larger than the batches coming from the rest of the world. The distribution worldwide, as depicted in Figure 4 is not homogeneous. Both characteristics of the dataset, as well as the taxonomic coverage (see above) are the main focus of J.-M. Demange and J.-P. Mauriès’ research work. The studies of H.W. Brolemann over the fauna from Algeria, Brazil and the USA are clearly visible on Figure 5 (Brolemann 1896b, 1897, 1909, 1931, MyriaLit). Although it is highly probable that the amount of specimens from metropolitan France is over-represented in the dataset, compared to the whole physical collection, it is still the first geographical area of origin for the specimens of MNHN-MY. The same phenomenon is observed when interpreting the average number of specimen per batch, as depicted on Figure 6. With the exception of a few countries, the average number of specimen per batch is relatively low (average of 4.049 specimens per batch for the non-French specimens). Also, in the distribution of the type batches, France tends to be still over-represented in the dataset, though less drastically (see Figure 7). We suspect this is due to the fact that even though France is not a “hot spot” for myriapod biodiversity, it has been and still is an intensively studied area. In contrast with the myriapods, the onychophorans specimens come from different locations outside France, reflecting the ecology and distribution of the group. One could be surprised to notice in Figure 8 the importance of South Africa as geographical origin of the specimens in the collection. These specimens mainly come from institutional exchanges, driven by L.E. Bouvier between the MNHN and other institutes, such as the British Museum. The Figure 9 reflects the extensive and general work of description L.E. Bouvier made over these few specimens.

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Contacts

Jean-Paul Mauriès
originator
position: Provider
MNHN
CP 53, 61 rue Buffon
Paris
75231
FR

Simon Chagnoux
metadata author
email: gbifprovider@mnhn.fr

Laurent Albenga
distributor
position: data manager
MNHN
CP 49/50, 45 rue Buffon
Paris
75231
FR

Gwenaël Le Bras
processor
position: data manager
MNHN
CP 49/50, 45 rue Buffon
Paris
75231
FR

Jean-Paul Mauriès
administrative point of contact
position: former curator
MNHN
CP 53, 61 rue Buffon
Paris
75231
FR

Jean-Jacques Geoffroy
administrative point of contact
position: Curator
MNHN
4 avenue du Petit-Château
Brunoy
F-91800
email: geoffroy@mnhn.fr