taxonID	type	description	language	source
03C9861F936DFF9A46BDBDA0212FFED1.taxon	discussion	Comments: This is the most diverse family of Opiliones in the world with over 1260 extant species (Kury et al. 2024). Only four species (Nelima doriae (Canestrini, 1872), Nelima pontica Charitonov, 1941, Amilenoides caucasicus Martens and Wijnhoven 2022, Kovalius logunovi Tchemeris, 2023) combined in three genera are found in the Caucasus (Martens & Wijnhoven 2022; Modebadze et al. 2023; Tchemeris 2023).	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9A46BDBB88275EFC53.taxon	description	Figs 1 – 2	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9A46BDBB88275EFC53.taxon	materials_examined	GEORGIA • 5 ♂, 8 ♀ (IEC); Kintrishi NP (Fig. 19); N 41.7482 °, E 42.0940 °; 1637 m a. s. l.; 13 Jul. 2018; leg. GBOL team; Malaise trap near the end of the wood; CaBOL-IDs 1035635, 1035637, 1035640, 1035651, 1035660, and 1035689. Barcoding: Four barcodes were obtained from the specimens with CaBOL-IDs 1035637, 1035640, 1035651, and 1035660 (BOLD: AGP 4261, maximum p - distance 0.4 %). There were no barcodes for A. caucasicus in BOLD Systems, as we submitted the first ones.	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9A46BDBB88275EFC53.taxon	discussion	Remarks: In neighboring territories, A. caucasicus was reported from Kabardino-Balkaria (Fig. 19) (Martens & Wijnhoven 2022). Previously considered endemic to the Northwest Caucasus, its status is now reevaluated as endemic to the Caucasus region.	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9A46BDBC14269EF918.taxon	discussion	Comments: Currently, there are around 429 extant species (Kury et al. 2024), 22 of which are distributed in Georgia (Modebadze et al. 2023). The genera Opilio Herbst, 1798 (seven species) and Rilaena Šilhavý, 1965 (six species) are the most speciose in the discussed territory (Modebadze et al. 2023).	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9F46BDBD502679FF19.taxon	description	urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 9578 DDB 5 - DCB 3 - 4286 - B 27 B- 179 A 71 EA 0783 Figs 3 – 6, 11 – 14	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9F46BDBD502679FF19.taxon	materials_examined	GEORGIA • 1 ♂ (Holotype) (IEC); Gori (Fig. 19); N 41.9695 °, E 44.0931 °; 790 m a. s. l.; 16 May 2023; leg. N. Bulbulashvili; hand collecting; Kaklebi church vicinity, mixed forest, on the bush; CaBOL-ID 1035653. • RUSSIA • 1 ♂ (Paratype) (RCNS); N. Ossetia, Tsey Gorge, Tsey Ridge; N 42.79891 °, E 43.97401 °; 1480 m a. s. l.; 23 June 2016; leg. S. K. Alekseev; barber traps, pine forest. Barcoding: We submit the first sequence of M. disputandus sp. nov. obtained from the specimen with CaBOLID 1035653 (BOLD: AGO 6659). Mitochondrial COI data of Metaplatybunus georgicus and M. disputandus sp. nov. (p- distance 5.47 %) partly supports the proper generic placement and validity of the herein-described species (Hebert et al. 2003).	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9F46BDBD502679FF19.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Males of Metaplatybunus disputandus sp. nov. differ from those occurring in Georgia M. georgicus in the following characteristics: significantly smaller body size vs. larger in M. georgicus (Figs 3 – 4, 7 – 8; Silhavy 1966: fig. 1), more prominent and numerous eye denticles vs. less prominent and fewer in M. georgicus (Figs 6, 10; Silhavy 1966 fig. 2), abdomen almost long as wide vs. ca. 1.6 times longer than wide in M. georgicus (Figs 3, 7; Silhavy 1966: fig. 1). BLI 1.98 vs. smaller in M. georgicus 1.4, subequal in M. valentinae 2.06. Less prominent spines on the ventral side of the palpal femur vs. strong in M. georgicus (Figs 13, 17; Silhavy 1966: figs. 4, 5), uneven cheliceral apophysis (Ap) on basal segment vs. prominent in M. georgicus (Figs 14, 18; Silhavy 1966: fig. 3), and penis shape (Figs 11 – 12, 15 – 16; Silhavy 1966: figs 6 – 9). From occurring in the NW Caucasus M. valentinae Snegovaya, 2022 it can be distinguished by the shape of penis (Figs 11 - 12; Snegovaya 2022: figs 1 J – L), lack of spines on palpal femur vs. permanent in M. valentinae and overall darker coloration vs. silvery.	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9F46BDBD502679FF19.taxon	description	Description. Male (Holotype). Total length 3.5 mm long, 2.07 mm wide. Eye tubercules with 9 – 11 pointy denticles. Eye tubercle 0.6 mm long, 0.5 mm wide. Body brownish with light brown limbs. Chelicera simply shaped, with uneven basal cheliceral apophysis (Ap). Cheliceral basal segment 0.7 mm long, distal segment 1.3 mm long. Penis short, 2.6 mm long, base wide, tapering towards neck, slightly expanded towards glans; glans 0.3 mm long; stylus 0.1 mm long. Leg and pedipalp measurements as in Table 1. Female. Unknown.	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9F46BDBD502679FF19.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin “ disputandum ” meaning “ arguable ”, pointing to the difficulties of naming the species.	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9F46BDBD502679FF19.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Georgia, North Ossetia (present MS).	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
03C9861F936EFF9F46BDBD502679FF19.taxon	description	Male (Paratype). Body 4.0 mm long, 2.1 mm wide. Penis 2.8 mm long, glans 0.3 mm, stylus 0.1 mm. Other characters of the paratype similar to those of the holotype.	en	Chitadze, Beka, Bulbulashvili, Natalia, Snegovaya, Nataly (2025): New records of harvestman and description of a new species of Metaplatybunus (Opiliones, Phalangiidae) from Georgia. Zootaxa 5633 (2): 364-374, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5633.2.8
