Evidence of spermatophores in Cyphophthalmi (Arachnida, Opiliones)

Abstract

A spermatophore in Opiliones is for the first time observed and described from a specimen of Cyphophthalmus serbicus (Hadži, 1973), here transferred from Siro. Insemination by means of spermatophores seems typical for some groups of the Cyphophthalmi, the most primitive and the least species-rich suborder in the order Opiliones. Primitive but complex insemination by spermatophores was retained in this group, which is adapted to a cryptozoic way of life, where this mating strategy is still functional. This paper presents a hypothesis on the possible significance of a number of characteristic traits in Cyphophthalmi, which presumably have some function for insemination via spermatophores.