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Samoidae, Pellobunus cf. insularis Banks, 1905, from Boca del Toro, Panama. Photo courtesy Gonzalo Giribet.
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Including more than 6500 species, Opiliones is the third most diverse order of Arachnida, after the megadiverse Acari and Araneae. This database is part 2 of 12 of a project containing an intended worldwide checklist of species and subspecies of Opiliones, and it includes the members of the suborder Laniatores, infraorder Grassatores of the superfa...
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A checklist of 30 spider species recorded from the Tigirek State Nature Reserve (the Altai Territory) is provided, of which four species are recorded from the reserve for the first time and one is new to the Altai Mts. Also, the family Uloboridae was first recorded for the reserve.
Citations
... The Zalmoxoidea is a Pantropical superfamily of Grassatores composed of six families, which is well represented in the Neotropics, with 279 species (Kury et al. 2021). Representatives of Zalmoxoidea are typically inhabitants of soil and leaf litter (Kury & Pérez-Gonza´lez 2002), also dwelling on trees and other forms of tall vegetation. ...
A new genus and species of Neotropical Grassatores, Hevelia crucis gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated
based on material of both sexes from Colombia. After comparison with the greater groups in Zalmoxoidea, especially the
putative early derivative families Guasiniidae and Icaleptidae, this new taxon is considered a Zalmoxoidea incertae sedis,
and seems to be related with Trypophobica Cruz-López et al., 2021 (currently in Icaleptidae, but which should be removed
from this family) and Costabrimma Goodnight & Goodnight, 1983 (currently in Zalmoxoidea incertae sedis), both from
Central America. Two species currently included in the zalmoxid genus Stygnoleptes Banks, 1913 from El Salvador are
transferred to Trypophobica, creating the new combinations T. gibbera (Roewer, 1954) and T. sellata (Roewer, 1954). Two
morphological structures for Zalmoxoidea are named here: mons cribellatus (sexually dimorphic porous prosomal and/or
abdominal dorsal hillock) and elbow-spade (lanceolate blade apical in the truncus penis).
... Biantidae Thorell, 1889, is the most diverse family of Samooidea Sørensen, 1886, with 32 genera and 134 species, and is currently subdivided into four subfamilies: Biantinae Thorell, 1889, Lacurbsinae Lawrence, 1959, Stenostygninae Roewer, 1913, and Zairebiantinae Kauri, 1985(Kury et al. 2020. Biantids are widely distributed, with species recorded from Afrotropical, Indomalayan, and Neotropical regions (Kury et al. 2015;Gong et al. 2018). In the Neotropics, only Stenostygninae is represented, and the subfamily is endemic to this region. ...
... In the Neotropics, only Stenostygninae is represented, and the subfamily is endemic to this region. Most of the stenostygnine genera and species are restricted to the Antilles (Kury 2003;Kury et al. 2015), leaving Stenostygnus pusio Simon, 1879, as the only biantid on the continent, inhabiting localities in the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador (Simon 1879;Roewer 1913;Pinto-da-Rocha 1995;Kury 2003). It is important to note that Roewer (1913: 165) established a spurious type locality and doubtful record of S. pusio from Cayenne, French Guiana (contra Simon 1879: 225) which was followed by Roewer (1923) and Kury (2003). ...
Stenostygnus martensi spec. nov. and Stenostygnus huberi spec. nov. are described from montane localities of the States of Mérida and Lara in Venezuela, and the diagnosis of the previously monotypic genus Stenostygnus Simon, 1879, is emended. The presence of these two new species as local endemics in Andean localities of Venezuela represents a huge range extension for the genus Stenostygnus, and the new localities are also ecologically different from previously known localities in the Amazon Basin. This could indicate the presence of a rich and uncharted diversity of stenostygnines in the Andean regions, particularly in the north of South America.
... Kimulidae is a family of sturdy and bumpy Zalmoxoidea, second only to Zalmoxidae in diversity within the superfamily (10 genera, 36 species), known mostly from Venezuela, the Greater Antilles and also isolated in NE Brazil and caves in SE Brazil [1][2][3]. They are dull brown colored animals, inhabiting the leaf litter. ...
Usatama gen. nov. is described to include a new species of Kimulidae from Colombia. This is the first record of the family from the country. The new genus presents a weakly armed ocularium, feeble sexual dimorphism, and unique genital structure with three parallel horseshoe-shaped girdles in pars distalis and absence of cochleariform macrosetae.
... Biantidae Thorell, 1889, is currently represented by four subfamilies (Biantinae Thorell, 1889;Lacurbsinae Lawrence, 1959;Stenostygninae Roewer, 1913;and Zairebiantinae Kauri, 1985), 32 genera, and 131 species worldwide (Kury, Souza & P?rez-Gonz?lez 2015). The highest diversity of the family is in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent and on Indian Ocean islands close to India, and the family barely penetrates into Southeast Asia (Kury & P?rez-Gonz?lez 2007). ...
... currently comprises 29 described species, which are mainly distributed throughout Seychelles (B. albimanus (Loman, 1902) andB. minimus Rambla, 1984), India (five species), Sri Lanka (B. aelleni ?ilhav?, 1974), Nepal (18 species), Malaysia (B. fuscipes Thorell, 1891), Burma (B. lecithodes Thorell, 1889), and Indonesia (B. vitellinus Thorell, 1891) (Kury, Souza & P?rez-Gonz?lez 2015). Biantes was originally described based on two species: the type species, Biantes longimanus Simon, 1885, from India and Biantes vittatus Simon, 1885, from Madagascar (Simon 1885). Because figures are lacking in Simon's 1885 description, the genus has undergone frequent transfers and synonyms. It was previously synonymized with Hinzuani ...
Two new species of Biantes Simon, 1885 (Biantidae: Biantinae) are described: Biantes calyptroideus sp. nov. (male and
female) from China and Biantes spatulatus sp. nov. (male and female) from Malaysia. Biantidae is recorded from China
for the first time.
... Spurious Kimulidae: justification of generic exclusions and nomenclatural implications. Acanthominua Sørensen, 1932 Acanthominua The genus Acanthominua is currently considered a member of Kimulidae [61] but the examination of two males syntypes of the type species Acanthominua tricarinata Sørensen, 1932 (repository ZMUC) revealed that the exomorphology (Fig 19A-19C) does not match with the familial characteristics as defined by Pérez-González and Kury [72]; therefore, Acanthominua is herein transferred to Zalmoxidae Sørensen, 1886, new family allocation. Moreover, the morphology of one male syntype of A. tricarinata was highly congruent with the drawings of Phalangodinella bicalcanei Gonzalez-Sponga, 1987, including diagnostic characteristics such as the particular armature of trochanter IV with two huge apophyses (see [71]: 241, figs. ...
... Gonzalez-Sponga [71] stated in his Historical Background that Sørensen, in 1891, worked on material collected by C. Levinsen in Las Trincheras, and determined this locality to be in the Carabobo State of Venezuela. Las The genus Euminua Kury and Alonso-Zarazaga, 2011, was until now a member of Kimulidae [61]. The examination of three syntypes of the type species Euminua brevitarsa Sørensen, 1932, (repository ZMUC) revealed that the species exhibits a peculiar sexually dimorphic character: in males, leg IV is much longer than that of females (Fig 19D). ...
... Ethobunus gracililongipes (González-Sponga, 1987), Chamaia convexa González-Sponga, 1987, Paraminuella bristowei Caporiacco, 1951 Sørensen, 1932, (repository ZMUC) revealed that the exomorphology (Fig 19E) does not match with the familiar characteristics as defined by Pérez-González and Kury [72] and the illustrations of the male genitalia by Sørensen ([64], Fig 5A-5C) show a form that is clearly related to other Zalmoxidae with a pergula and rutrum (as defined by Kury and Pérez-González [76]). Moreover, males of this species exhibit an elongated leg IV (Fig 19E), a sexually dimorphic character also described for Euminua brevitarsa (see above The genus Pseudominua Mello-Leitão, 1933 was assigned to Kimulidae [61] but the examination of 5 syntypes of the type species Euminua convolvulus Sørensen, 1932, (ZMUC: 4 syntypes; SMF: 1 syntype) revealed that the exomorphology (Fig 19F) does not match with the familiar characteristics as defined by Pérez-González and Kury [72] and the male genitalia, with a pergula and rutrum, demonstrate their close relationship with Zalmoxidae (as defined by Kury and Pérez-González [76]) (Fig 19G-19I). Therefore, Pseudominua is herein transferred to Zalmoxidae Sørensen, 1886, new family allocation. ...
A new troglobitic harvestman, Relictopiolus galadriel gen. nov et sp. nov., is described from Olhos d’Água cave, Itacarambi, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Morphological characters, including male genitalia and exomorphology, suggest that this species belongs to the family Kimulidae, and it appears to share the greatest similarities with Tegipiolus pachypus. Bayesian inference analyses of a molecular dataset strongly support the inclusion of this species in Kimulidae and confirm the hypothesized sister-group relationship between R. galadriel and T. pachypus. A time calibrated phylogeny indicates that these sister-taxa diverged from a common ancestor approximately 40 Mya, during the Paleogene. The current range of Kimulidae illustrates a remarkable disjunct distribution, and leads us to hypothesize that the ancestral distribution of Kimulidae was once much more widespread across eastern Brazil. This may be attributed to the Eocene radiation associated with the warming (and humidifying) events in the Cenozoic when the best conditions for evergreen tropical vegetation in South America were established and followed by the extinction of kimulid epigean populations together with the retraction of rain forests during the Oligocene to Miocene cooling. The discovery of this relictual troglobite indicates that the Olhos d’Água cave was a stable refugium for this ancient lineage of kimulids and acted as a "museum" of biodiversity. Our findings, considered collectively with the diverse troglofauna of the Olhos d’Água cave, highlight it as one of the most important hotspots of troglobite diversity and endemism in the Neotropics. Given the ecological stresses on this habitat, the cavernicolous fauna are at risk of extinction and we emphasize the urgent need for appropriate conservation actions. Finally, we propose the transfer of Acanthominua, Euminua, Euminuoides and Pseudominua from Kimulidae to Zalmoxidae, resulting in two new synonymies and 13 new combinations.
The genus Spaeleoleptes was proposed by H. Soares in 1966 to accommodate the first Brazilian troglobitic species of harvestmen, Spaeleoleptes spaeleus H. Soares, 1966. In this work, we redescribe this species, including digital images of the type material and drawings of the male genitalia. Since its description, Spaeleoleptes has remained monotypic, and after 56 years, herein is described the second species of the genus, the troglobitic Spaeleoleptes gimli sp. nov. Both species share sexually dimorphic legs I and II with modified regions and swelling on the tibiae and patellae I and II; a penis with robust conductors covering all or part of the capsula interna and a capsula interna with two lateral projections. They are clearly separated by the shape of the modified region of the tibia; by the presence of an apical projection on the apical lamina of the pars distalis in S. spaeleus; and the lateral projections of the capsula interna, which is flattened in S. gimli. Spaeleoleptes gimli greatly increases the distributional range of the genus, as it is now recorded from caves located in two Brazilian phytophysiognomies from the Cerrado of Minas Gerais to the Caatinga of Bahia.
An updated overview of the Argentinean harvestman fauna, comprising 101 species (99 named and two under study), reunited in three suborders and 11 families, is provided. The richest family, Gonyleptidae, is represented by eight subfamilies, whose record in Argentina is partially the result of systematic advances of the last decade. A commented checklist of the Argentinean species, as well as an updated regional identification key up to family level are given (the latter was a missing resource in the literature for the last 60 years). The new synonymy Parapachyloides
uncinatus = Apophysigerus fontanensis is proposed. Some basic biological features of the group are presented, which differs from other arachnids in their onmivorous habits, the scent glands, the direct spermatic transfer, and in some cases, the parental care of eggs. Harvestmen show clear preferences for humid habitats, what in Argentina is reflected by the higher richness in the Paraná forests, the Yungas and the Andean-Patagonian forests. Advances on the study of the bioclimatic preferences by means of the Species Distribution Modeling, as well as on paleobiogeographic research, in which distributional hypotheses were tested by combining paleodistribution models and phylogeographic analyses, are summarized. Comments on the conservation status of vulnerable species (troglobites and high-altitude relicts) are also addressed.
Among Opiliones (Arachnida), there are many taxa either with no familial assignment or erroneously located in their current family. This is the case of Ethobunus pilosus, formerly in Phalangodidae and before this work in Zalmoxidae. To assess the phylogenetic position of this taxon, we started with a revision of the male genitalia; followed by the inclusion of three molecular markers: nuclear 28S and 18S, and mitochondrial protein-encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from E. pilosus in the previously published phylogenies of the Samooidea + Zalmoxoidea clade. The results revealed that E. pilosus is a derived lineage within the family Icaleptidae, thus it is transferred from Zalmoxidae, and the new name Trypophobica gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate it, with the new combination Trypophobica pilosa comb. nov. With its inclusion in Icaleptidae, and the description of Trypophobica llama sp. nov., the current diagnosis of the family needs updating, and further morphological characters should be considered as putative synapomorphies. In addition, the reconstruction of the ancestral ranges of Icaleptidae suggests a mid-Cretaceous origin c. 104 Ma in South America, with a subsequent colonisation to north Mesoamerica c. 80 Ma.
The "World Catalogue of Opiliones" (WCO) is a collaborative effort to comprehensively index the Earth's species of harvestmen. This paper announces one component of the WCO, "WCO-Lite" a website available at https://wcolite.com/. WCO-Lite provides a graphic user interface for a second component of the WCO, "Opiliones of the World", a database on the taxonomy of the harvestmen curated in TaxonWorks (TW). WCO-Lite interfaces include: (1) a checklist of all valid taxa of the arachnid Opiliones, exhaustive up to December 2018; (2) a taxonomic tree; (3) a search engine comprising two modules; and (4) a counter of species diversity for each taxon. An e-Book companion was launched simultaneously with WCO-Lite version 1.1 on September 12, 2020 to account for the formal publication of mandatory nomenclatural changes and availability of taxonomic names. The collective components of the WCO are also being summarized in a forthcoming conventional paper-form catalogue, currently in manuscript stage. With almost 6,640 valid species, the Opiliones is the fourth most diverse order in arachnids after Acariformes, Parasiti-formes and Araneae, although estimates of numbers, taxonomic rank and even the monophyly of the two major acarian groups varies wildly (Harvey 2007; van Dam et al. 2018; Kury et al. 2020a; World Spider Catalog 2020). There are already modern catalogues for spiders and for the minor arachnid orders, but hitherto none for harvestmen at world scale. The severe need for an accurate nomenclatural treatment of the order Opiliones is felt for several years, and in the last decades smaller steps have already been taken to this end, by dealing with specific subtaxa and specific geographic areas (e.g.
A new species of the genus Ethobunus Chamberlin, 1925 from Mexico is described: Ethobunus oaxacensis sp. nov. The description of this new species is based on both sexes, specimens collected from different localities of low deciduous forest in the coastal region from the state of Oaxaca. Ethobunus oaxacensis sp. nov. is compared with other two species of the genus present in Mexico: Ethobunus acanthotibialis (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1953) and Ethobunus pilosus (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1953); it is also compared with the most similar species, Ethobunus cubensis (Šilhavý, 1979) and Ethobunus kratochvili (Šilhavý, 1979), both from Cuba. Additional comments on the taxonomy of the Mexican Ethobunus and Pachylicus Roewer, 1923 are provided.
