Trachyuropoda
Berlese, 1888
Trachyuropoda is a of soil-dwelling mites in the Trachyuropodidae, comprising over 30 described . These mites belong to the suborder Uropodina and are found in forest litter and soil . They have been studied as indicators of soil fauna diversity in West African .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Trachyuropoda: //ˌtrækjʊˈrɒpədə//
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Habitat
Forest litter and soil profiles to 40 cm depth. In Côte d'Ivoire, Trachyuropoda has been recorded in primary forest, savannah, and plantation , with highest abundance in Oumé primary forest and Lamto savannah.
Distribution
Recorded from Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa), with distribution records also indicated for Norway (NO) and Sweden (SE). The has been documented in the Sudanese domain (Lamto savannah, Oumé) and Guinean domain (Taï primary forest).
Seasonality
Abundance is higher during the rainy season (August–October) than the dry season (January–March) in Côte d'Ivoire.
Ecological Role
Considered an indicator of soil fauna in forest litter due to interactions with other small arthropods. Potential role as agents has been suggested but requires further study.
Similar Taxa
- AfrotrachytesBoth are Uropodina found in Côte d'Ivoire soil , but Afrotrachytes shows highest abundance in Oumé primary forest only, whereas Trachyuropoda peaks in both Oumé primary forest and Lamto savannah.
More Details
Taxonomic note
placement varies between sources: Trachyuropodidae (GBIF, Wikipedia) versus Urodinychidae (NCBI ). This reflects ongoing taxonomic revision in Uropodina .
Sampling methodology
Berlese-Tullgren funnel extraction with immediate bulb lighting yields optimal recovery. Abundance decreases significantly with soil depth, with greatest numbers in litter and upper 0–5 cm.