GONYLEPTIDAE INCERTAE SEDIS

Kury, Adriano B., 2014, Why does the Tricommatinae position bounce so much within Laniatores? A cladistic analysis, with description of a new family of Gonyleptoidea (Opiliones, Laniatores), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 172 (1), pp. 1-48 : 15-16

GONYLEPTIDAE INCERTAE SEDIS

Some genera, insufficiently characterized, have been assigned to the Tricommatinae in the past, but there is no evidence to keep them in this group or to assign them to the Cryptogeobiidae as diagnosed here. Most of the descriptions were based upon females, and presently are difficult to relate to other groups. They were not included in the present analysis, pending more study, preferably with the discovery and examination of males.

Included genera: Bebedoura (probably Escadabiidae ), Lussanvira Mello-Leitão, 1935 , Otuquisa Roewer, 1928 , Saladonus Roewer, 1928 .

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF TRICOMMATINAE

1. Dorsal scutum trapezoid, without marked constrictions, flaring posteriorly; area I undivided; femur and tibia III of male extremely stout, balloon-like swollen; tibia armed with ventral row of spines; femur IV of male thin, not significantly stouter than femora I-II ............................................................ Voriax popeye (BA, Figs 12 , 13 )

− Dorsal scutum type alpha ( Fig. 14A, C ); area I divided into left and right halves; femur and tibia III normal, not swollen; femur IV robust, clearly thicker than the others .........................................................................2

2. Pedipalpal femur robust, convex, dorsally armed with a row of ventral and dorsal spines; both basichelicerite and cheliceral hand of male very robust; ocularium extremely flattened, eye widely separated; anterior margin of carapace with three teeth.................................................................................... Caramaschia singularis (BA)

− Pedipalpal femur weak, unarmed; chelicerae monomorphic, weak; ocularium ovoid normal, eyes placed close together; carapacal margin unarmed....................................................................................................... 3

3. Ocularium unarmed; coxa IV prodorsal armed with short spine; trochanter IV of male unarmed...................... ............................................................................................... Tricommatus brasiliensis (SC, Figs 15 , 16 )

− Ocularium with a small median acuminate tubercle; coxa IV prodorsal armed with bifid short apophysis; trochanter IV of male with three apophyses...............................................................................................4

4. Femur IV of male dorso-apical with short tubercle; patella IV of male with three robust spiniform apophyses, one anvil-shaped................................................................................................. Tricommatus giupponii (SC)

− Femur IV of male dorso-apical with two stouter tubercles and ventro-apical with robust spine; patella IV of male with three apophyses, two very small............................................................... Tricommatus pygmaeus (SC)

Figures

Figure 12. Voriax popeye sp. nov., male paratype (MNRJ 17722). A, habitus, dorsal view; B, same, lateral view; C, carapace, coxae I−III, lateral view; D, dorsal scutum, frontodorsal view; E, coxa IV, stigmatic area, free sternites, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm (A, B), 0.2 mm (D, E), 0.1 mm (C).

Figure 13. Voriax popeye sp. nov., male paratype (MNRJ 17722). A, stigmatic area showing ‘encased’ position of stigma; B, right ozopore, lateral view; C, right pedipalpal tibia-tarsus, ventral view; D, same, detail of mesal tibial setiferous tubercles; E, left leg III whole, prolateral to dorsal views; F, left distitarsomere + claws III, latero-apical view.

Figure 14. Cryptogeobiidae and other relevant taxa. Sample of the diversity of dorsal scutum outlines (schematic, not to scale). A, Tricommatus brasiliensis; B, Soaresia uncina; C, Caramaschia singularis; D, Pseudophalangodes unicolor; E, Bunostigma singulare; F, Cryptogeobius crassipes; G, Gen. sp. D; H, Gen. sp. G; I, Zalanodius bicornutus; J, Heteromeloleptes padbergi; K, Camarana insignis; L, Gen. sp. S; M, Bissulla paradoxa; N, Tibangara nephelina; O, Bissulla singularis; P, Gen. sp. X, Abbreviations: c1−2, constrictions 1 and 2; ca, carapace; co, coda; mb, mid-bulge.

Figure 15. Tricommatus brasiliensis Roewer, 1912, male holotype (SMF RI 220). A, habitus, dorsal view; B, same, lateral view; C, sternal region, coxae, stigmatic area, and sternites, ventral view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figure 16. Tricommatus brasiliensis Roewer, 1912, male holotype (SMF RI 220). A, left leg I, retrolateral view; B, right leg IV, prolateral view; C, penis, distal part, dorsal view; D, same, lateral view; E, same, ventral view. Figures C–E from Weber (1988). Abbreviations: G, glans; GZ, gelenk-zone (articular zone); S, stylus; T, Truncus. Scale bars = 1 mm (A, B); 0.05 mm (C–E).