Redescription of Platygyndes Roewer 1943, a false Gonyleptidae, (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cosmetidae)

Praelibitia Roewer, 1956 and its type species, Praelibitia titicaca Roewer, 1956, are respectively synonymized with Platygyndes Roewer, 1943 and its type species Platygyndes titicaca Roewer, 1943, and furthermore the genus is transferred from the Gonyleptidae to the Cosmetidae. On the basis of domed and unarmed ocularium, increased number of granules on scutal areas, unarmed dorsal scutum and general body shape, Platygyndes seems to be closely related to Moselabius Roewer, 1956 and Caracarana Roewer, 1956. External morphological characters that are useful to revealing relationships among cosmetid genera are discussed.     

A new genus and five new species of Metasarcinae from Peru (Arachnida, Opiliones, Gonyleptidae)

An emended diagnosis for Metasarcinae is given. The genera Cajarnarca Roewer, 1952 (Phalangodidae Tricommatinae), Chacoikeontus Roewer, 1929 and Tschaidicancha Roewer, 1957 (both Gonyleptidae Prostygninae) are transferred to the subfamily. The new genus Incasarcus is described for five new species of the Peruvian Department of Cusco. The five new species Incasarcus dianae sp. nov., Incasarcus pictus sp. nov., Incasarcus argenteus sp. nov., Incasarcus viracocha sp. nov. and Incasarcus ochoai sp. nov. axe described and illustrated. A key to the species of Incasarcus is given and their distribution is illustrated on a map.     

A cladistic analysis of the Stygnicranainae Roewer, 1913 (Arachnida,Opiliones, Cranaidae) – where do longipalp cranaids belong?

A character survey compiling the morphological information of the subfamily Stygnicranainae was carried out. Two new species of Stygnicranaus Roewer, 1913 are described from Colombia and the new genus Agathocranaus is described from Ecuador. All known species of the subfamily are included in a matrix of 46 morphological characters. Parsimony analysis under implied weights recovered a monophyletic Stygnicranainae including Tryferos Roewer, 1931 plus Stygnicranaus and Agathocranaus. However, the usage of the four subfamilies of Cranaidae as currently defined is abandoned because the two largest subfamilies of Cranaidae – Cranainae and Prostygninae – represent paraphyletic groups (grades), whereas Heterocranainae is a superfluous subfamily, including only the genus Heterocranaus Roewer, 1913. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157 , 470–494.     

Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of Heteropachylinae (Opiliones: Laniatores: Gonyleptidae)

Heteropachylinae Kury, 1994 is currently considered an early lineage of Gonyleptidae Sundevall, 1833 and includes small harvestmen that occur in the Atlantic Forests, mainly in the Northeast Region of Brazil. The species of Heteropachylinae were spread in different subfamilies until the establishment of the group. As a result of that, until now there were no comparative works on the subfamily in the literature. In this study, the first systematic review for Heteropachylinae was carried out and the first phylogenetic hypothesis for their taxa is proposed, by means of a cladistic approach. A total of 102 morphological characters was coded for 21 terminal taxa: 11 species of Heteropachylinae, two species from the genus Mangaratiba Mello‐Leitão, 1940 (considered as Heteropachylinae before this paper), seven other gonyleptids, and one cosmetid. The data were analysed using heuristic search algorithms, resulting in one most parsimonious tree (280 steps, consistency index = 0.47, retention index = 0.63). A parsimony analysis under implied weights was also performed, resulting in three trees. According to the results, Heteropachylinae is a monophyletic and well‐supported group if Mangaratiba is excluded. This genus should be returned to where it was originally described – Pachylinae. The subfamily distribution is restricted from Ceará to Espírito Santo Brazilian states. Pseudopucrolia Roewer, 1912 is considered a senior synonym of Melloa Roewer, 1930, Thaumatoleptes Roewer, 1930, and Tribunosoma Roewer, 1943. Two species of Heteropachylus Roewer, 1913, Heteropachylus ramphonotus sp. nov. and Heteropachylus gracilis sp. nov. , from Bahia and Espírito Santo Brazilian states, are newly described. Heteropachylus is considered a senior synonym of Chavesincola Soares & Soares, 1946 and Aesotrinoma H. Soares, 1977. A new genus is also described for a new species from Bahia and Espírito Santo Brazilian states, Magnispina neptunus gen. et sp. nov. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: Pseudopucrolia incerta (Mello‐Leitão, 1928) comb. nov. , Pseudopucrolia discrepans (Roewer, 1943) comb.nov. , Pseudopucrolia rugosa (Roewer, 1930) comb. nov. , Heteropachylus inexpectabilis (Soares & Soares, 1946) comb. nov. and Heteropachylus spiniger Roewer, 1913. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163 , 437–483.     

Typhlonesticus gocmeni sp. n., a new cave-dwelling blind spider species from the Aegean region of Turkey (Araneae,Nesticidae)

A new species of the troglobitic spider genus Typhlonesticus is described from specimens found in Keloğlan Cave (Denizli Province, Dodurgalar Town), Turkey. Typhlonesticus gocmeni sp. n. is described on the basis of both sexes; and its phylogenetic relationships with closely related European genera and species are discussed based on morphological and molecular data (the cox1, rrnL and H3 genes). Three new combinations are proposed: Typhlonesticus idriacus (Roewer, 1931), comb. n., Typhlonesticus morisii (Brignoli, 1975) comb. n. and Typhlonesticus obcaecatus (Simon, 1907), comb. n. all ex Nesticus.     

A new family of Gonyleptoidea from South America (Opiliones,Laniatores)

A new family of Laniatores, Gerdesiidae fam. nov., is proposed based on molecular and morphological evidence. Data also indicate that this new family is the sister family of Tricommatidae. Gerdesiidae fam. nov. has a disjunct distribution, occurring in northern South America (Peru, Brazilian Amazon) and at a spot in south‐eastern Brazil (Minas Gerais State). The new family is composed of two genera: Gerdesius Roewer, 1952 (type genus) and G onycranaus gen. nov. (type species G onycranaus androgynus sp. nov. ). We propose the synonymy of Huralvioides H. Soares, 1970 with Gerdesius Roewer, 1952 based on molecular and morphological evidence. Three new species are described: G erdesius mapinguari sp. nov. (type locality: Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus, Reserva Km 41); G onycranaus androgynus sp. nov. (type locality: Brazil, Minas Gerais, Conceição do Mato Dentro); and an obligate cave‐dwelling species, G onycranaus pluto sp. nov. (type locality: Brazil, Minas Gerais, Morro do Pilar). © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

New systematic assignments in Gonyleptoidea (Arachnida, Opiliones, Laniatores)

As part of an ongoing revision of the family Gonyleptidae, we have identified many species that are synonyms of previously described species or misplaced in this family. This article summarizes these findings, adding previously unavailable information or correcting imprecise observations to justify the presented taxonomic changes. The following new familial or subfamilial assignments are proposed: Nemastygnus Roewer, 1929 and Taulisa Roewer, 1956 are transferred to Agoristenidae, Agoristeninae; Napostygnus Roewer, 1929 to Cranaidae; Ceropachylinus peruvianus Roewer, 1956 and Pirunipygus Roewer, 1936 are transferred to Gonyleptidae, Ampycinae; Gyndesops Roewer, 1943, Haversia Roewer, 1913 and Oxapampeus Roewer, 1963 are transferred to Gonyleptidae, Pachylinae. The following generic synonymies are proposed for the family Gonyleptidae: Acanthogonyleptes Mello-Leitão, 1922 = Centroleptes Roewer, 1943; Acrographinotus Roewer, 1929 = Unduavius Roewer, 1929; Gonyleptes Kirby, 1819 = Collonychium Bertkau, 1880; Mischonyx Bertkau, 1880 = Eugonyleptes Roewer, 1913 and Gonazula Roewer, 1930; Parampheres Roewer, 1913 = Metapachyloides Roewer, 1917; Pseudopucrolia Roewer, 1912 = Meteusarcus Roewer, 1913; Haversia Roewer, 1913 = Hoggellula Roewer, 1930. The following specific synonymies are proposed for the family Gonyleptidae: Acanthogonyleptes singularis (Mello-Leitão, 1935) = Centroleptes flavus Roewer, 1943, syn. n.; Geraeocormobius sylvarum Holmberg, 1887 = Discocyrtus serrifemur Roewer, 1943, syn. n.; Gonyleptellus bimaculatus (Sørensen, 1884) = Gonyleptes cancellatus Roewer,1917, syn. n.; Gonyleptes atrus Mello-Leitão, 1923 = Weyhia brieni Giltay, 1928, syn. n.; Gonyleptes fragilis Mello-Leitão, 1923 = Gonyleptes banana Kury, 2003, syn. n.; Gonyleptes horridus Kirby, 1819 = Collonychium bicuspidatum Bertkau, 1880, syn. n., Gonyleptes borgmeyeri Mello-Leitão, 1932, syn. n., Gonyleptes curvicornis Mello-Leitão, 1932, syn. n., Metagonyleptes hamatus Roewer, 1913, syn. n. and Paragonyleptes simoni Roewer, 1930, syn. n.; Gonyleptes pustulatus Sørensen, 1884 = Gonyleptes guttatus Roewer, 1917, syn. n.; Haversia defensa (Butler, 1876) = Sadocus vallentini Hogg, 1913, syn. n.; Liogonyleptoides minensis (Piza, 1946) = Currala bahiensis Soares, 1972, syn. n.; Megapachylus grandis Roewer, 1913 = Metapachyloides almeidai Soares & Soares, 1946, syn. n.; Mischonyx cuspidatus (Roewer, 1913) = Gonazula gibbosa Roewer, 1930 syn. n.; Mischonyx scaber (Kirby, 1819) = Xundarava holacantha Mello-Leitão, 1927, syn. n.; Parampheres tibialis Roewer, 1917 = Metapachyloides rugosus Roewer, 1917, syn. n.; Parapachyloides uncinatus (Sørensen, 1879) = Goyazella armata Mello-Leitão, 1931, syn. n.; Pseudopucrolia mutica (Perty, 1833) = Meteusarcus armatus Roewer, 1913, syn. n. The following new combinations are proposed: Acrographinotus ornatus (Roewer, 1929), comb. n. (ex Unduavius); Gonyleptellus bimaculatus (Sørensen, 1884),comb. n. (ex Gonyleptes);Gonyleptes perlatus (Mello-Leitão, 1935), comb. n. (exMoojenia);Mischonyx scaber (Kirby, 1819), comb. n. (ex Gonyleptes); and Neopachyloides peruvianus (Roewer, 1956), comb. n. (ex Ceropachylus). The following species of Gonyleptidae, Gonyleptinae are revalidated: Gonyleptes atrus Mello-Leitão, 1923 and Gonyleptes curvicornis (Roewer, 1913).     

Systematic revision of Hoggicosa Roewer, 1960, the Australian ‘bicolor’ group of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)

The Australian wolf spider genus Hoggicosa Roewer, 1960 with the type species Hoggicosa errans (Hogg, 1905) is revised to include ten species: Hoggicosa alfi sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa castanea (Hogg, 1905) comb. nov. (= Lycosa errans Hogg, 1905 syn. nov. ; = Lycosa perinflata Pulleine, 1922 syn. nov. ; = Lycosa skeeti Pulleine, 1922 syn. nov. ); Hoggicosa bicolor (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa brennani sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa duracki (McKay, 1975) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa forresti (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa natashae sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa snelli (McKay, 1975) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa storri (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; and Hoggicosa wolodymyri sp. nov. The Namibian Hoggicosa exigua Roewer, 1960 is transferred to Hogna, Hogna exigua (Roewer, 1960) comb. nov. A phylogenetic analysis including nine Hoggicosa species, 11 lycosine species from Australia and four from overseas, with Arctosa cinerea Fabricius, 1777 as outgroup, supported the monophyly of Hoggicosa, with a larger distance between the epigynum anterior pockets compared to the width of the posterior transverse part. The analysis found that an unusual sexual dimorphism for wolf spiders (females more colourful than males), evident in four species of Hoggicosa, has evolved multiple times. Hoggicosa are burrowing lycosids, several constructing doors from sand or debris, and are predominantly found in semi‐arid to arid regions of Australia. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 83–123.     

Revision of the genus Trogulus Latreille: the morphologically divergent Trogulus torosus species‐group of the Balkan Peninsula (Opiliones: Dyspnoi: Trogulidae)

Within the species‐rich European harvestman genus Trogulus Latreille, 1802, the Balkan Trogulus torosus species‐group as defined by Schönhofer and Martens is revised. The group is remarkable because it includes the world's largest Opiliones species, Trogulus torosus Simon, 1885, and Trogulus ozimeci sp. nov. is the first member of the family showing obvious adaption to subterranean life. According to nuclear 28S and mitochondrial cytochrome b gene data, the T. torosus species‐group and the Trogulus hirtus species‐group form a monophyletic unit. Only the former is treated here as a paraphyletic group. Despite this paraphyly, the T. torosus species‐group members share a number of morphological, morphometric, geographical, and ecological traits and are treated here as a unit for revisional work. Morphometric data are shown to be not only useful for species discrimination but also for species‐group delineation. Within the T. torosus species‐group six species are recognized: Trogulus banaticus Avram, 1971, Trogulus setosissimus Roewer, 1940, and T. torosus are re‐described; Trogulus megaligrava sp. nov. , T. ozimeci sp. nov. , and Trogulus tenuitarsus sp. nov. are described as new. Unusually within Trogulus, strong affiliations with subterranean habitats exist and are discussed. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Revision of the Australian Gagrellinae (Arachnida: Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae), with a description of a new species

A new species of the Indo-Australian Gagrellinae (Arachnida: Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae), Gagrella cauricrepa , is described from the Iron Range, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. This represents the first definite indigenous Australian record of Sclerosomatidae, though the family has previously been known from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The previous record of Zaleptus marmoratus Roewer 1910 from the Australian fauna is regarded as currently unconfirmable.     

Taxonomic review of Bourguyiinae,cladistic analysis,and a new hypothesis of biogeographic relationships of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest (Arachnida: Opiliones,Gonyleptidae)

The subfamily Bourguyiinae Mello‐Leitão, 1923 (Gonyleptidae) is revised, and both phylogenetic and biogeographic hypotheses are proposed. Bourguyiinae is monophyletic, and is the sister group of the remainder of the Gonyleptidae species used for analysis, except for the Metasarcinae, which collectively is the sister group of Metavononoides orientalis Mello‐Leitão, 1923 (Cosmetidae). Bourguyiinae is divided into two genera: Bourguyia (six species) and Asarcus (four species). The genus‐level synonyms proposed here are as follows: Caldasius, Styloleptes, and Stylopisthos are junior synonyms of Bourguyia; Bogdana, Cnemoleptes, and Opisthoplites are junior synonyms of Asarcus. The species synonyms proposed here are as follows: Afranius amarali Mello‐Leitão, 1934 is a junior synonym of Bourguyia albiornata Mello‐Leitão, 1923 ; Drastus hamatus Roewer, 1943 and Styloleptes conspersus Piza, 1943 are junior synonyms of Bourguyia trochanteralis Roewer, 1930 ; Asarcus corallipes Simon, 1879 , Asarcus lutescens Sørensen, 1884 , Asarcus pallidus Mello‐Leitão, 1923 , and Opisthoplites ypsilon Sørensen, 1884 are junior synonyms of Asarcus longipes Kollar in Koch, 1839 ; Asarcus nigriconspersus Soares & Soares, 1945 is a junior synonym of Asarcus ingenuus Melo‐Leitão, 1940. New species described are: Bourguyia bocaina sp. nov. (Serra da Bocaina, São José do Barreiro, São Paulo), Bourguyia vinosa sp. nov. (E.B. Boracéia, Salesópolis, São Paulo), and Asarcus putunaberaba sp. nov. (Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Alto Caparaó, Minas Gerais). Bourguyiinae is endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Paraná. Based on the modified data matrix of Pinto‐da‐Rocha et al., we propose a new biogeographical hypothesis for the Atlantic Rainforest. We suggest that Bourguyiinae species were originally distributed from the coastal region of Paraná to the north of Rio de Janeiro and south‐east of Minas Gerais, with subsequent dispersals both to northern and southern areas. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 156 , 319–362.     

On Levymanus,a remarkable new spider genus from?Israel,with notes on the Chediminae (Araneae,Palpimanidae)

Levymanus gershomi gen. n. et sp. n., is described from southern Israel. The eye arrangement and structure of the male palp indicate that this genus belongs to Chediminae Simon, 1893. Levymanus gen. n. differs from other chedimine genera by its unusually long and slender legs, an elongate body, a unique shape of the bipartite thoracic fovea, reduced leg scopulae, smaller spinnerets, and other characters, which are presumably apomorphic. We propose two taxonomic changes: 1) based on widely spaced lateral eyes the Western African genus Badia Roewer, 1961 is transferred from Chediminae to Palpimaninae, and 2) Fernandezina gyirongensis Hu & Li, 1987 from China, based on palpal morphology, is transferred to the Asian genus Steriphopus Simon, 1887 for a new combination Steriphopus gyirongensis (Hu & Li, 1987) comb. n.     

A survey of the East Palaearctic Lycosidae (Araneae). 9. Genus Xerolycosa Dahl, 1908 (Evippinae)

Three species of Xerolycosa: Xerolycosa nemoralis (Westring, 1861), Xerolycosa miniata (C.L. Koch, 1834) and Xerolycosa mongolica (Schenkel, 1963), occurring in the Palaearctic Region are surveyed, illustrated and redescribed. Arctosa mongolica Schenkel, 1963 is removed from synonymy with Xerolycosa nemoralis and transferred to Xerolycosa, and the new combination Xerolycosa mongolica (Schenkel, 1963) comb. n. is established. One new synonymy, Xerolycosa undulata Chen, Song et Kim, 1998 syn.n. from Heilongjiang = Xerolycosa mongolica (Schenkel, 1963), is proposed. In addition, one more new combination is established, Trochosa pelengena (Roewer, 1960) comb. n., ex Xerolycosa.     

Assessing the taxonomic resolution of southern African trapdoor spiders (Araneae: Ctenizidae; Cyrtaucheniidae; Idiopidae) and implications for their conservation

Taxonomic classifications simultaneously represent hypotheses of taxon identity and relationships to taxonomists, and real, unchanging entities to users of taxonomic information. Taxonomic changes, while representing scientific progress, can be a source of frustration for users. A method for assessing confidence in the taxonomy of a group of organisms would assist users of the taxonomy. A method is presented for determining the degree of development of a taxonomy, a concept termed ‘taxonomic resolution’. The method was applied to six groups of southern African mygalomorph trapdoor spiders, namely Stasimopus Simon 1892 (Ctenizidae Thorell 1877), Ancylotrypa Simon 1889 (Cyrtaucheniidae Simon 1889), four genera of Idiopidae Simon 1889 assessed as a single group, Galeosoma Purcell 1903, the families Migidae Simon 1889 and Microstigmatidae Roewer 1942, and the burrowing scorpion genus Opistophthalmus C. L. Koch 1837 (Scorpionidae Latreille 1802). The method was based on the assumption that species delimitation in a group of organisms, the taxonomy of which is based on morphological characters, depends on whether the sample of material examined is adequate for assessing variation in those characters. Five assessment criteria were identified and scored for a group of species using the taxonomic literature. Estimates of the number of species remaining to be discovered and described in each group were also included in the assessment. The results obtained for the trapdoor spiders ranged from 15 to 29%, indicating a potentially significant degree of uncertainty in the taxonomy. Results for Migidae and Microstigmatidae were 51 and 78% respectively, whereas the result for Opistophthalmus was 93%. The applied value of a measure of taxonomic resolution, the limitations of the method, and a strategy for developing a more generally applicable method are discussed.     

Two new harvestmen species (Arachnida: Opiliones) from the Caucasus

Two new harvestmen species of the family Phalangiidae, Rilaena caucasica sp. n. and Rilaena silhavyi sp. n. are diagnosed, illustrated, and described from the Caucasus region. Comparative illustration of the related Rilaena anatolica (Roewer, 1956), R. atrolutea (Roewer, 1915) and R. kelbajarica Snegovaya &; Pkhakadze, 2014 Snegovaya, N. Y., &; Pkhakadze, V. D. (2014): New species of the genus Rilaena (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from the mount Gyamish, Azerbaijan. Vestnik zoologii, 48, 313–318. doi: 10.2478/vzoo-2014-0037[Crossref] , [Google Scholar] are given.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7B29FD94-45A2-4E32-A41E-3276E016410B     

Five new species of Triotemnus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) from Morocco and Yemen

Fivenew species of the genus Triotemnus from Morocco and Yemen are described. Triotemnus is a new genus of Scolytinae for the Yemen region. External morphology of the new species and all morphologically related species of the genus were studied. While the new species from Morocco are morphologically similar to the known species from the corresponding region, all three newly described species from Yemen, mainly two of them living in Socotra, are morphologically very different from all other known species of the genus. Geographical distribution and the probability of endemicity are discussed.     

A revision of the genus Labidochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi

The diagnosis of the genus Labidochromis is revised to include species with bicuspid outer teeth. Sixteen species, of which 13 are new, are described and illustrated and the validity of five others is discussed. The interrelationships between members of the genus and the relationship of the genus to other genera are discussed. No clearly defined sister group to the genus has been found either within or outside the Lake Malawi cichlid species flock. A key based on the coloration of known species is included.     

The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: the genus Glossodoris Ehrenbergh (= Casella, H. & A. Adams)

The genus Glossodoris Ehrenberg is reviewed and 28 species are placed in the genus. Seventeen species are fully described and of these, seven are named as new species. Four others are considered new to science, but insufficient material is available to name them. Published information on a further 11 species is included as is a discussion on phylogenetic trends within the genus.     

A Study on Dichocarpum (Ranunculaceae)

The genus Dichocarpum was established by W. T. Wang and Hsiao in 1964, who divided the genus into 2 sections: Sect. Dichocarpum including 10 species distributed on the mainland of E. Asia, and Sect. Hutchinsonia including 9 species native to Japan. M. Tamura and L. A. Lauener made a revision of the genus in 1968, who divided the genus into 4 sections, three for the species of the mainland of E. Asia, including 3 series and 10 species, and the other for the species of Japan, including 2 subsections, 3 series and 9 species. In the present paper, the genus is divided into 2 sections and 6 series, including 15 species and 3 varieties, and a putative phylogeny of the genus is proposed. The genus may be close to the genus Asteropyrum, and these two genera are rather specialized in Thalictroides (Ranunculaceae), because they have three very similar characters: the petal with a long claw, the stephanocolpate pollen and the chromosome morphology. The genus has 2n=24, 35(36?), which indicates that its basic number is X=6, and the species on the mainland of E. Asia (Sect. Dichocarpum) may well be paleotetraploids, whereas those in Japan (sect. Hutchinsonia) are paleohexaploids. Most of the advanced species are distributed in Japan and the most primitive ones in China and the Himalayas, the distribution pattern seggests that the Japanese members of this genus might have immigrated from China in the Tertiary, and differentiated and evolved there. The putative phylogeny of the genus is shown in Fig. 2 (at series level)