GERDESIIDAE, Bragagnolo & Hara & Pinto-Da-Rocha, 2015

Bragagnolo, Cibele, Hara, Marcos R. & Pinto-Da-Rocha, Ricardo, 2015, A new family of Gonyleptoidea from South America (Opiliones, Laniatores), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (2), pp. 296-319 : 301-306

GERDESIIDAE FAM. NOV.

Composition: Gerdesius Roewer, 1952 (type genus) and Gonycranaus gen. nov.

Diagnosis: Body shape pyriform (type alpha or gamma), widest at scutal groove II (from posterior region of scutal area I to anterior region of scutal area II; Gonycranaus gen. nov.), or scutal area II, densely covered by tubercles. Eyes in a common, domed, and densely tuberculated ocularium. Scutal area I undivided or with very shallow longitudinal groove ( Gerdesius hoeferi ). Scutal areas with a pair of paramedian slightly enlarged tubercles or unarmed ( Gonycranaus ). Posteri- or margin of dorsal scutum unarmed. Free tergites I–III medianally unarmed. Anal operculum unarmed ( Gonycranaus ) or with armature varying from an en- larged median tubercle to a very robust median spine. Pedipalpal podomeres cylindrical; tibia and tarsus dorsally with median to minute tubercles and moderately sized ventral mesal/ectal setae. Basitarsus I slightly inflated or of similar width to distitarsus in males ( Gonycranaus ). Coxa IV visible dorsally in all

KEY FOR GENERA AND SPECIES OF MALES OF GERDESIIDAE :

1. Ocularium armed with one spine; pedipalps with weak tubercles on femur; male coxa IV with prolateral apical moderately elongated apophysis Gerdesius .............................................................................................2

– Ocularium unarmed; pedipalps with strong tubercles on femur; male coxa IV unarmed Gonycranaus .............. 4

2. Free tergite I with a lateral spine on each side........................................... Gerdesius mapinguari sp. nov.

– Free tergite I unarmed.......................................................................................................................3

3. Anal operculum with an enlarged median tubercle....................................................... Gerdesius peruvianus

– Anal operculum armed with a median, robust spine................................................................................5

4. Elongated legs (leg IV more than eight times longer than the dorsal scutum length)...................................... ............................................................................................................... Gonycranaus pluto sp. nov.

– Legs not elongated (leg IV up to six times longer than the dorsal scutum length).......................................... ..................................................................................................... Gonycranaus androgynus sp. nov.

5. Scutal area I divided into right and left halves; posterior margin of free tergite III with a cluster of setiferous tubercles on each corner................................................................................................ Gerdesius hoeferi

– Scutal area I entire; posterior margin of free tergite III without a cluster of setiferous tubercles on each corner ............................................................................................................................. Gerdesius paruensis

extension (both sexes), not reaching the posterior margin of the dorsal scutum, usually reaching up to the height of scutal grooves IV or V. Tarsal process well developed; tarsal claws smooth. Penis: glans sacs subcylindrical ( Gonycranaus ) or club-shaped (dorsoventrally flattened and laterally widened), ventral process without stem, with or without flabellum; stylus straight or apically swollen, flattened laterally; ventral plate reduced, with very long setae organized in two transversal rows (in lateral view) or ventral plate well developed with short to medium-sized setae disposed parallel with penis main axis (in lateral view).