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Checklist of valid genera of Opiliones of the World

by Adriano B. Kury

 

< back to A.B. Kury < back to Arachnology > to Classification of Opiliones

PAGE CURRENTLY BEING RECONCEIVED/REWORKED -- PLEASE BE PATIENT

This page may be cited as:

Kury, A.B. (2002 onwards) Checklist of valid genera of Opiliones of the World. Museu Nacional/UFRJ website. Online at: http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/mndi/Aracnologia/checklaniator.htm

GENERA RECENTLY DESCRIBED IN OPILIONES: 
2011: Forsteropsalis Taylor, 2011, Hypomegalopsalis Taylor, 2011, Magnispina Mendes, 2011, Petrobunus Sharma & Giribet, 2011, Tercentenarium Taylor, 2011.
2010: Ayenea Santos & Prieto, 2010, Canga DaSilva et al., 2010, Mbinia Santos & Prieto, 2010, Montalenia Santos & Prieto, 2010, Niefanga Santos & Prieto, 2010, Pyatan DaSilva & Gnaspini, 2010, Starengovia Snegovaya, 2010.
2009: Agathocranaus Orrico & Kury, 2009; Australiscutum Taylor, 2009; †Daohugopilio Huang et al., 2009; †Mesobunus Huang et al., 2009; Neopantopsalis Taylor & Hunt, 2009; Ricstygnus Kury, 2009; Taurolaena  Snegovaya & Staręga, 2009.
2008: Camerobunus Staręga & Snegovaya, 2008; Enigmina Ubick & Briggs, 2008; Megacina Ubick & Briggs, 2008; Microcinella Ubick & Briggs, 2008; Pamiropilio Staręga & Snegovaya, 2008; Redikorcevia Snegovaya & Staręga, 2008; Templar Taylor, 2008; Tularina Ubick & Briggs, 2008
2007: Aoraki Boyer & Giribet, 2007; Meghalaya Giribet et al., 2007

 

Most diverse genera in Opiliones (with number of species):
These are the 30 genera of Phalangida which have 30 or more species. Together they sum 1900 species, that is 30% of the total diversity of Opiliones (6445 spp). 30 genera out of 1630 makes less than 2%, marking the extreme asymmetry of the taxonomic recognition of diversity. More impressively, the 4 top-diverse genera (0.2%), which have above 100 species each, sum up 643 species, that is 10% of the total Opiliones. Of the 30 genera listed here, 7 are Gagrellinae and 5 Cosmetidae.

Gagrella

 238

Psathyropus

 42

Cynorta

 154

Metabiantes

 41

Leiobunum

 132

Sabacon

 40

Prionostemma

 119

Ischyropsalis

 39

Paecilaema

 93

Opilio

 39

Geaya

 84

Eusarcus

 36

Nemastoma

 84

Santinezia

 35

Discocyrtus

 76

Dentobunus

 34

Zaleptus

 72

Eucynorta

 34

Gagrellula

 67

Avima

 33

Nuncia

 61

Cyphophthalmus  32

Gnomulus

 54

Erginulus

 32

Rhampsinitus

 47

Tithaeus

 32

Nelima

 45

Cynortula

 31

Zalmoxis

 45

Biantes

 30

 

ETYMOLOGY OF GENERIC NAMES IN OPILIONES
It is important to investigate the etymology of generic names to ascertain the gender and consequently the grammatical inflection of the specific name. It is an arduous task, because in most cases it is not acknowledged and the reviewer is obliged to investigate beneath the mysterious thoughts of long dead authors.
CATEGORY EXAMPLES
By far the commonest generic names in Opiliones are those derived from place names, sometimes without change, sometimes unrecognizable, horribly mutilated, or embroidered with strange prefixes or suffixes. Amazonesia, Anjolus, Bogania, Brotasus, Bukowina, Cajamarca, Cobania, Irnia, Itatiaya, Samoa, Santobius, Tampiconus.
A subcategory of these are the names formed by a place/demonymic name plus a pre-existing genus Caribbiantes, Graecophalangium, Iberosiro, Indosidama, Ivobiantes, Nippononychus.
Classic names formed by a combination of two Greek/Latin roots were also widely favored. Astrobunus, Calathocratus, Cladonychium, Dendrolasma, Dolichoscelis, Fissiphallius, Ischyropsalis, Podoctis, Sterrhosoma.
We also have series of names derived from a same name: Acrogonyleptes, Gonyleptellus, Metagonyleptoides, Neogonyleptes, Paragonyleptes, Progonyleptes, Progonyleptoidellus, Progonyleptoides.
A variation of this are the names with the same ending: Austromontia, Ceratomontia, Graemontia, Paramontia, Planimontia.
Homage to people played also an important role in the choice of naming. Names of friends/relatives/naturalists/explorers: Absolonia, Bourguyia, Buresiolla, Camarana, Geaya, Rivetinus, Roquettea, Sarasinia, Yuria.
Names of known/unknown women: Cristina, Lola, Marthana.
Names of arachnologists: Banksula, Crosbyella, Giupponia, Hadziana, Lomanius.
Names of minor kings of exquisite ancient reigns Ariaeus, Cleombrotus, Cranaus, Erginus, Minua, Sadocus.
A whole section of Egyptian pharaohs: Amasis, Cheops, Rhampsinitus, Sabacon, Sesostris, Taracus.
Spirits, demons, Gods and Goddesses of minor religions are also present: Kaapora, Marwe, Trojanella, Zalmoxis.
Minor figures of Greek mythology: Gryne, Mermerus.
Names of indigenous people: Caddo, Incasarcus, Kainganga, Zuma.
Some unusual beautiful names refer to ancient names of places or cultural references of people: Amhara, Bundelkhandia, Hinzuanius, Ibalonius, Kapichaba, Maiorerus, Travunia.
Also neologisms using indigenous languages in the same way as Greek or Latin: Abaetetuba, Iandumoema.
Characters of literature are also present: Pinocchio, Sandokan, Timoleon.
Favorite dishes: Pyza.
Names referring to microhabitat/biology: Bodunius, Cryptogeobius, Geraeocormobius.
Jubilee or anniversary celebration names: Tercentenarium
Names referring to mode of capture: Berlesecaptus.
Names used as a derogatory to political enemies: Lentsujo.
Names of unknown origin, most likely modern languages, which may be puns or jokes: Xulapona.

 

LIST OF THE GENERA OF THE ORDER OPILIONES IN THE WORLD
Cyphophthalmi Simon, 1879 
      Incertae sedis
    Neogoveidae Shear, 1980
    Ogoveidae Shear, 1980
    Pettalidae Shear, 1980
    Sironidae Simon, 1879
    Stylocellidae Hansen and Sørensen, 1904
    Troglosironidae Shear, 1993
Eupnoi Hansen & Sørensen, 1904 
    Caddoidea Banks, 1892 
    Caddidae Banks, 1892 
      Acropsopilioninae Roewer, 1923
      Caddinae Banks, 1892
  Phalangioidea Latreille, 1802 
    Genera incertae sedis – family uncertain
    †Kustarachnidae Petrunkevitch, 1949
    †Nemastomoididae Petrunkevitch, 1955
    Neopilionidae Lawrence, 1931 
      Ballarrinae Hunt & Cokendolpher, 1991
      Enantiobuninae Mello-Leitão, 1931
      Neopilioninae Lawrence, 1931
    Phalangiidae Latreille, 1802
      Dicranopalpus genus group Crawford, 1992
      Oligolophinae Banks, 1893
      Opilioninae C.L.Koch, 1839
      Phalangiinae Latreille, 1802
      Platybuninae Staręga, 1976
    Sclerosomatidae Simon, 1879
      Gagrellinae Thorell, 1889
      Gyinae Šilhavý, 1946
      Leiobuninae Banks, 1893
      Metopilio genus group
      Protolophinae Banks, 1893
      Sclerosomatinae Simon, 1879
Dyspnoi Hansen & Sørensen, 1904
     << back to top Ischyropsalidoidea Simon, 1879
    Ceratolasmatidae Shear, 1986
    Ischyropsalididae Simon, 1879
    Sabaconidae Dresco, 1970
<< back to top Troguloidea Sundevall, 1833
    Dicranolasmatidae Simon, 1879
    Nemastomatidae Simon, 1872 
      Nemastomatinae Simon, 1872
      Ortholasmatinae Shear & Gruber, 1983
    Nipponopsalididae Martens, 1976
    Trogulidae Sundevall, 1833
Laniatores Thorell, 1876 
                        << back to top Travunioidea Absolon & Kratochvíl, 1932
    Briggsidae Özdikmen & Demir 2008
    Cladonychiidae Hadži, 1935 
    Nippononychidae Suzuki, 1975 
    Paranonychidae Briggs, 1971 
      Paranonychinae Briggs, 1971
      Sclerobuninae Dumitrescu, 1976
    Travuniidae Absolon & Kratochvíl, 1932 
<< back to top Triaenonychoidea Sørensen, 1886  
    Synthetonychiidae Forster, 1954
    Triaenonychidae Sørensen, 1886 
      Triaenonychidae incertae sedis (subfamily uncertain)
      Adaeinae Pocock, 1903
      Soerensenellinae Forster, 1954
      Triaenobuninae Pocock, 1903
      Triaenonychinae Sørensen, 1886
Grassatores Kury, 2002  
    Grassatores incertae sedis (family uncertain)
<< back to top Assamioidea Sørensen, 1884
    Assamiidae Sørensen, 1884  
      Aburistinae Roewer, 1935
      Acacinae Roewer, 1935
      Assamiinae Sørensen, 1884
      Dampetrinae Sørensen, 1886
      Erecinae Roewer, 1935
      Eupodaucheniinae Roewer, 1935
      Hypoxestinae Roewer, 1935
      Irumuinae Kauri, 1985
      Maruinae Roewer, 1935
      Polycoryphinae Roewer, 1935
      Selencinae Roewer, 1935
      Sidaminae Roewer, 1935
    Epedanidae Sørensen, 1886 
      Epedanidae incertae sedis
      Acrobuninae Roewer, 1912
      Dibuninae Roewer, 1912
      Epedaninae Sørensen, 1886
      Sarasinicinae Roewer, 1923
    Pyramidops genus group
    Stygnopsidae Sørensen, 1932
    Trionyxellidae Roewer, 1912
      Mysoreinae Roewer, 1935
      Opcochininae Roewer, 1935
      Pungoicinae Roewer, 1935
      Trionyxellinae Roewer, 1912
<< back to top Gonyleptoidea Sundevall, 1833
    Agoristenidae Šilhavý, 1973
      Agoristeninae Šilhavý, 1973
      Leiosteninae Šilhavý, 1973
      Zamorinae Kury, 1997
    Cosmetidae Koch, 1839
      Cosmetinae Koch, 1839
      Discosomaticinae Roewer, 1923
    Cranaidae Roewer, 1913
      Cranainae Roewer, 1913
      Heterocranainae Roewer, 1913
      Prostygninae Roewer, 1913
      Stygnicranainae Roewer, 1913
    Gonyleptidae Sundevall, 1833
      Gonyleptidae incertae sedis
      Ampycinae Kury, 2003
      Bourguyiinae Mello-Leitão, 1923
      Caelopyginae Sørensen, 1884
      Cobaniinae Kury, 1994
      Goniosomatinae Mello-Leitão, 1935
      Gonyassamiinae Soares & Soares, 1988
      Gonyleptinae Sundevall, 1833
      Hernandariinae Sørensen, 1884
      Heteropachylinae Kury, 1994
      Metasarcinae Kury, 1994
      Mitobatinae Simon, 1879
      Pachylinae Sørensen, 1884
      Pachylospeleinae Šilhavý, 1974
      Progonyleptoidellinae Soares & Soares, 1985
      Sodreaninae Soares & Soares, 1985
      Tricommatinae Roewer, 1912
    Manaosbiidae Roewer, 1943
    Stygnidae Simon, 1879 
      Heterostygninae Roewer, 1913
      Nomoclastinae Roewer, 1943
      Stygninae Simon, 1879
<< back to top Phalangodoidea Simon, 1879
    Phalangodidae Simon, 1879
    Sandokanidae Özdikmen & Kury, 2007
<< back to top Samooidea Sørensen, 1886 
    Beloniscus species group
    Biantidae Thorell, 1889
      Biantinae Thorell, 1889
      Lacurbsinae Lawrence, 1959
      Stenostygninae Roewer, 1913
      Zairebiantinae Kauri, 1985
    Escadabiidae Kury & Pérez, 2003
    Kimulidae Pérez, Kury & Alonso-Zarazaga, 2007
    Podoctidae Roewer, 1912
      Erecananinae Roewer, 1912
      Ibaloniinae Roewer, 1912
      Podoctinae Roewer, 1912
    Samoidae Sørensen, 1886
    Stygnommatidae Roewer, 1923 
<< back to top  Zalmoxoidea Sørensen, 1886 
    Fissiphalliidae Martens, 1988 
    Guasiniidae González-Sponga, 1997 
    Icaleptidae Kury & Pérez, 2002 
    Zalmoxidae Sørensen, 1886 


The junior synonyms are not all here, but they will be gradually added whenever my short time allows. Thanks to my colleagues (Dr Gonzalo Giribet, Boston; Dr Jürgen Grüber, Vienna; Dr. A. Tourinho-Davis, Manaus) for feedback / comments / corrections / nitpicking.