Early lineages of gonyleptidae (arachnida opiliones laniatores)

Abstract

As result of cladistic methodology applied to the study of Gonyleptidae, four precocious branches are newly recognized in the phylogeny of the family. Three new subfamilies are proposed and diagnosed and a new concept is given for the Bourguyiinae Mello-Leitão 1923. Metasarcinae, a new subfamily is proposed for the Bolivian Metasarcus Roewer 1913 (formerly in Mitobatinae) and an undescribed Argentinean genus. Chaconatus Roewer 1929 (formerly in Prostygninae) is herein considered to be a new junior subjective synonym of Metasarcus. Heteropachylinae, a new subfamily is proposed for nine genera formerly described as Gonyleptinae or Pachylinae, and distributed along the Brazilian coast. Cobaniinae, a new subfamily is proposed for the genus Cobania Roewer 1913. Bourguyiinae should be the correct spelling of a subfamily name based on the generic name Bourguyia Mello-Leitão 1923. In the present new concept, four of its five genera are removed, while eight others are transferred from the Gonyleptinae, Pachylinae and Progonyleptoidellinae. To reconstruct the phylogeny of Gonyleptidae, 16 morphological characters were analysed through HENNIG 86, providing a single most parsimonious cladogram of CI = 0.77. The branching pattern obtained is: (Metasarcinae (Heteropachylinae (Cobaniinae (Bourguyiinae + the other Gonyleptidae))). Piresa angulispinosis H. Soares 1966 is newly referred to Mangaratiba Mello-Leitão 1940. © 1994 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.