Saturday, March 25, 2023

[Arachnida • 2023] Hevelia crucis • A New Genus of Zalmoxoidea (Opiliones: Grassatores) from Colombia

 

Hevelia crucis
Kury, García, & Ahumada-C, 2023
 

Abstract
A new genus and species of Neotropical Grassatores, Hevelia crucis gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on material of both sexes from Colombia. After comparison with the greater groups in Zalmoxoidea, especially the putative early derivative families Guasiniidae and Icaleptidae, this new taxon is considered a Zalmoxoidea incertae sedis, and seems to be related with Trypophobica Cruz-López et al., 2021 (currently in Icaleptidae, but which should be removed from this family) and Costabrimma Goodnight & Goodnight, 1983 (currently in Zalmoxoidea incertae sedis), both from Central America. Two species currently included in the zalmoxid genus Stygnoleptes Banks, 1913 from El Salvador are transferred to Trypophobica, creating the new combinations T. gibbera (Roewer, 1954) and T. sellata (Roewer, 1954). Two morphological structures for Zalmoxoidea are named here: mons cribellatus (sexually dimorphic porous prosomal and/or abdominal dorsal hillock) and elbow-spade (lanceolate blade apical in the truncus penis).
 
KEYWORDS: Central America, harvestmen, Laniatores, mons cribellatus, Neotropics, rutrum




 
Adriano B. Kury, Andrés F. García, and Daniela Ahumada-C. 2023. A New Genus of Zalmoxoidea from Colombia (Arachnida: Opiliones: Grassatores). The Journal of Arachnology. 51(1); 37-45. DOI:  10.1636/JoA-S-21-070