Forgotten gods: Zalmoxidae of the Philippines and Borneo (Opiliones: Laniatores)

Abstract

The limits of zalmoxid distribution in Southeast Asia are poorly understood, but a focus of recent research. Here we describesix new species of litter-inhabiting harvestmen in the genus Zalmoxis Sørensen, 1886 (Opiliones: Laniatores: Zalmoxidae)using light microscopy and SEM. Three of these species are from the Philippine Islands (Zalmoxis gebeleizis sp. nov., Zalmoxisderzelas sp. nov., and Zalmoxis sabazios sp. nov.) and the other three from Borneo (Zalmoxis zibelthiurdos sp. nov., Zalmoxisbendis sp. nov., and Zalmoxis kotys sp. nov.). The collecting localities of these species add to the known range of Zalmoxidae,which have not previously been reported from Borneo. The new species add to known morphological variation of Zalmoxis, specifically with respect to sexually dimorphic tarsomeres, body size, and armature of the anal plate.

Phylogeography of the Laniatorid HarvestmanPseudobiantes japonicusand Its Allied Species (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores: Epedanidae)

“…In this study, it allows for the discussion about hybridization, introgression, and incomplete linage sorting between phylogenetic groups of P. japonicus to add the nrDNA information. Previous studies indicated that polymorphisms in 28S rRNA in nrDNA had proven to be effective tools to clarify the relationship of closely related taxa in harvestmen (Wheeler and Hayashi 1998;Giribet et al 1999;Sharma andGiribet 2009, 2011;Derkarabetian et al 2010;Giribet et al 2010;Hedin and Thomas 2010;Sharma 2010;Sharma et al 2012). Therefore, the phy- logenetic study using both mtDNA and an additional nrDNA could provide an answer not only to reticulated evolution but also to cryptic speciation between genotypes in P. japonicus.…”

“…Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed new aspects for our understanding of the relationships in various groups of harvestmen (Giribet et al 1999; Thomas and Hedin 2008;Sharma andGiribet 2009, 2011;Derkarabetian et al 2010Derkarabetian et al , 2011Giribet et al 2010;Hedin and Thomas 2010;Schö nhofer and Martens 2010;Burns et al 2012;Hedin et al 2012;Sharma 2010;Sharma et al 2012;Schö nhofer et al 2013). In this study, as a Þrst trial of the application of molecular phylogenetics for Japanese laniatorids, we focused on the phylogenetic relationships of various populations of the laniatorid Pseudobiantes japonicus Hirst, 1911 (Epedanidae) and its allied species of the same family.…”

Out of the Neotropics: Late Cretaceous colonization of Australasia by American arthropods

“…However, overland dispersal hypotheses are inconsistent a priori with zalmoxid distribution and tree topology. Distributions for which Beringian migration has been invoked include Nearctic and Palaearctic elements, such as parts of North America, Japan and/or southeast Eurasia [40][41][42], none of which is inhabited by Zalmoxidae [23,25]. Similarly, no Zalmoxidae occur in the former constituents of the trans-Antarctic connection, such as southern Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand or southern South America.…”

“…The ca 200 described species of Zalmoxidae are found throughout tropical leaf-litter habitats in Amazonia, Meso-America, parts of Melanesia and Micronesia, northern Australia, New Guinea, the Philippine Islands, Java and Borneo [22][23][24][25]. Two additional species are known from Mauritius and the Seychelle Islands [23].…”

World Checklist of Opiliones species (Arachnida). Part 2: Laniatores – Samooidea, Zalmoxoidea and Grassatores incertae sedis

“…Pérez-González and Kury (2007a) presented evidence that Minuides is a Zalmoxidae, therefore Minuidinae is a synonym of this family. Sharma and Giribet (2012) demonstrated that the family Zalmoxidae, “similar to the Pacific iguanas, constitutes the unusual case of a lineage of Neotropical origin that colonized the Indo-Pacific, likely by ancient transoceanic dispersal during the Late Cretaceous.” Accordingly, Sharma and collaborators (Sharma et al 2011a, Sharma 2012, Sharma et al 2012) while describing many new Paleotropical species, sought to merge all Old World genera of Zalmoxidae to better accommodate this single origin within a wider familial clade,which is much more diverse in the Neotropics.…”