Dicellurata

Definition

A suborder of Diplura (two-pronged bristletails) characterized by abdominal appendages modified into pincer-like cerci or paired terminal filaments, in contrast to the long, thread-like cerci of the sister suborder Projapygoidea. The suborder contains the single superfamily Japygoidea, which includes families such as Japygidae and Parajapygidae. Dicellurata species are primarily soil-dwelling predators or scavengers in moist habitats.

Etymology

Example

The japygid Japyx solifugus, a member of Dicellurata, uses its forceps-like cerci to capture small soil arthropods.

Related Terms

• Diplura
• Japygoidea
• Projapygoidea
• cercus
• Entognatha
• hexapod

Usage Notes

Dicellurata is the larger and more diverse of the two Diplura suborders, distinguished from Projapygoidea by the structure of the terminal abdominal appendages. The name refers to the paired (di-) and tail-like (-cellurata) nature of these appendages. Specialists sometimes discuss Dicellurata in the context of hexapod phylogeny, as Diplura's placement relative to Collembola and Insecta remains debated.