Introduction

The Protentomidae is a cosmopolitan family. The body form is stout and mouth-parts are relatively sturdy. Lacinia of maxillae are slightly hook-shaped or straight. Tracheae and thoracic spiracles are absent.

The family was erected by Ewing (1936) after Mills (1932) and restored the genus name Protentomon and replaced the subfamily name Meroentominae (as Meroentomoninae) with Protentominae (as Protentomoninae). Tuxen & Yin (1982) presented a revised subfamily classification and defined Fujientominae Tuxen & Yin, Hesperentominae Tuxen, Condeellinae Tuxen & Yin and Protenominae Ewing. Yin (1984), however, raised Fujientominae and Hesperentominae to family status.

Only one species is known from Australia and this probably introduced.

General References

Ewing, H.E. 1936. Synonymy and synopsis of the genera of the order Protura. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 49: 156-166

Mills, H.B. 1932. Catalogue of the Protura. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 27: 125-130

Tuxen, S.L. & Yin, W.Y. 1982. A revised subfamily classification of the genera of Portentomidae (Insecta: Protura) with description of a new genus and a new species. Steenstrupia 8: 229-249

Yin, W.Y. 1984. A new idea on phylogeny of Protura with approach to its origin and systematic position. Scientia Sinica B 27(2): 149-160

History of changes

• Protentomon Ewing, H.E. 1921. New genera and species of Protura. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 23: 193-202 [29 Nov. 1921] [195].

  Type species:

   Protentomon transitans Ewing, 1921 by original designation.
• Meroentomon Womersley, H. 1927. Notes on the British species of Protura, with description of new genera and species. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 63: 140-148 [145] [unnecessary nom. nov. for Protentomon Ewing, 1921; Womersley believed that Protentomon was already occupied by Paul Mayer's hypothetical insect, see Imms, A.D. 1930. A General Textbook of Entomology including the anatomy, physiology, development and classification of insects. 2nd edn. (3)].

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory

Extra Distribution Information

Europe, Mediterranean, Africa, Madeira and N and S America.

IBRA

ACT: Australian Alps (AA), South Eastern Highlands (SEH)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Afrotropical Region

• Madagascar

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory: Murray-Darling basin

Nearctic Region

Neotropical Region

Palaearctic Region

Distribution References

History of changes

• Acerentulus perpusillus Berlese, A. 1909. Monografia dei Myrientomata. Parte I. Sistematica e morfologia esterna. Redia. Giornale di entomologia, Firenze 6: 1-182 [Pt I pp. 1-59 29 May 1909; Pt II pp. 60-182 14 Aug. 1909] [48].

  Type data:

   Holotype IEA ♀, San Vincenzo, Piza, Italy.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory

Extra Distribution Information

Europe and N America.

IBRA

ACT: Australian Alps (AA), South Eastern Highlands (SEH)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory: Murray-Darling basin

Nearctic Region

Palaearctic Region

Ecological Descriptors

Woodland.

Extra Ecological Information

Dry woodland, brown coarse sand.

General References

Nosek, J. 1973. The European Protura. Their taxonomy, ecology and distribution with keys for determination. Geneva : Museum d'Histoire Naturelle 345 pp. [166] (taxonomy, distribution)

Paclt, J. 1955. Protura. Genera Insectorum 211: 1-123 [10] (as Microentomon perpusillum = Microentomon minutum Ewing)

Sarmiento, J.V. & Najt, J. 1971. Aportes al concocimiento de los proturos de Argentinia 5. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina 33: 87-92 [88] (taxonomy)

Tuxen, S.L. 1956. Neues ueber die von Berlese beschriebenen Proturen. Redia. Giornale di entomologia, Firenze 41: 227-258 [249]

Tuxen, S.L. 1960. Ergänzendes über die von Silvestri und Berlese beschriebenen Proturen. Entomologiske Meddelelser 29: 294-303 [302]

Tuxen, S.L. 1964. The Protura. A revision of the species of the world with keys for determination. Actualités Sci. Industr. No. 1311 Problèmes d'écologie. Paris : Hermann 360 pp. [193] (taxonomy)

Tuxen, S.L. 1967. Australian Protura, their phylogeny and zoogeography. Zeitschrift für Zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung 5: 1-53 [17] (also [50]; taxonomy, status of Australian record, distribution)

History of changes