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| Assamhoplites martensis Porto, Kontos & Pérez-González, 2024 |
The family Assamiidae Sørensen, 1884, within the suborder Laniatores Thorell, 1876, of Opiliones remains poorly studied, with challenges arising from typology-based systematics and limited sampling, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The recent discovery of Filopalpinae Martens, 2022, a new subfamily, highlighted the underexplored richness in Ethiopia. In this study, we describe a new genus and species, Assamhoplites martensis n. gen., n. sp., from the northwestern Ethiopian Highlands, adding a crucial piece to the understanding of the diversity of harvestmen in the region. Our findings reveal the unique distribution of Filopalpinae within the Ethiopian Montane Moorlands ecoregion, a biodiversity hotspot. This area high altitudes, humidity, and temperate climate make it an ideal refuge for harvestmen. This discovery prompts further exploration to determine if Filopalpinae represents altitude relicts or a widespread lineage. The sexual dimorphism in pedipalp morphology, observed not only in Assamhoplites martensis n. gen., n. sp. but also in related species, raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary significance of such extreme modifications. The study underscores the importance of considering both morphological and biogeographical factors in taxonomic classifications, illustrated by the creation of the monotypic genus Assamhoplites n. gen. based on differences in pedipalp morphology and distribution. The northwestern Ethiopian Highlands, separated by the Great Rift Valley, act as a possible biogeographical barrier influencing the diversification of these harvestmen. This study provides insights into the intricate evolutionary processes shaping the unique diversity of the fauna of the Ethiopian highlands.
Keywords: Afrotropics, genital morphology, Grassatores, sexual dimorphism, new species, new genus
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| Assamhoplites martensis n. gen., n. sp. |
Assamhoplites martensis n. gen., n. sp.
Willians PORTO, Panagiotis KONTOS and Abel PÉREZ-GONZÁLEZ. 2024. African Highland Harvestman: New Genus and New Species of Filopalpinae Martens, 2022 (Opiliones, Assamiidae) from Wonchi Crater, Oromia Province, Ethiopia. Zoosystema. 46(22); 577-587. zoosystema.com/46/22
