Uma nova espécie de Metavononoides da Mata Atlântica (Arachnida: Opiliones: Cosmetidae)

A new species of Cosmetidae belonging to the genus Metavononoides Roewer, 1928 is herein described. Metavononoides renneri sp.nov. is clearly recognized by its distinctive tarsal formula, by the ratio length/width of dorsal scutum, and by its characteristic color pattern. The new species is the thirteenth species included in the genus. It is known only from the type locality, Bom Jesus do Norte, Alto da Torre, Espírito Santo, Brazil.Uma nova espécie de Cosmetidae pertencente ao gênero Metavononoides Roewer, 1928 é descrita. Metavononoides renneri sp.nov. é claramente reconhecida por sua fórmula tarsal, pela relação comprimento/largura do escudo dorsal, e pelo seu padrão de cores. A nova espécie é a décima terceira espécie do gênero. A localidade tipo é Bom Jesus do Norte, Alto da Torre, Espírito Santo, Brasil, havendo registro apenas nesse local

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

A new species of Graemontia Lawrence, 1931, from the Western Cape, South Africa, with notes on the relationships of the genus (Opiliones: Laniatores: Triaenonychidae)

Graemontia viridiceps n.sp., is described from the southwestern part of South Africa. This is the seventh species of the genus and the second species for which male genitalia are described and illustrated. A key is given to all species of Graemontia. This genus is important for studying phylogenetic relationships within the family Triaenonychidae because, although traditionally placed in the tribe Triaenonychini, it shares some derived similarities with members of the tribe Triaenobunini, which is absent from Africa. If, as suggested, Graemontia is the sister group of the Triaenobunini, it provides corroboration for the biogeographical sequence (South Africa (southern South America, Australia, New Zealand)).Keywords: Opiliones, South Africa, new species, Graemonti

A synopsis of catalogs and checklists of harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones)

Kury, Adriano B. (2012): A synopsis of catalogs and checklists of harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones). Zootaxa 3184 (1): 35-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3184.1.2, URL: https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3184.1.

Opiliones are no longer the same—on suprafamilial groups in harvestmen (Arthropoda: Arachnida)

A review of the names used in the arachnid order Opiliones above superfamily level is presented. Many historical branching patterns of Opiliones (for five terminals), of Laniatores (for six terminals), and of Cyphophthalmi (for six terminals) are extrapolated, compared and graphically displayed. For the first time a historical review is made of the circumscriptions of those names and comparisons are drawn to current usage. Critical clades are used as terminals and represented by the oldest valid generic name of each. Comments are made on the variant usage for 25 suprafamilial names from the literature. Cladistic definitions are provided for these names under relevant hypotheses of phylogeny. It is noted that virtually all important suprafamilial names in Opiliones changed concept over time, and the purpose of this project is to clarify the original usage compared to current, and to add historical perspective. Two options are considered for higher-level nomenclature in Opiliones: (1) a circumscriptional option, sticking to the original inclusion of the names; (2) an inertial option, where no name has priority, and follows recent use in the literature. As there is no priority for names not regulated by ICZN, option 2 prevails, because it entails massive momentum. The following new names are introduced as unranked taxa to define clades under different hypotheses of phylogeny: Tricospilata (= Triaenonychidae + Grassatores), Lomaniatores (Laniatores in the restricted sense used by Loman/Pocock), and Eulaniatores (Laniatores excluding the bizarre Synthetonychiidae). Some of the hypotheses implied by these names are conflicting and mutually exclusive, but the state of knowledge of harvestman taxonomy is quickly changing, and no hypothesis that clearly supersedes the others can be detected

The first species of Roquettea from Maranh\ue3o, Brazil (Opiliones: Cosmetidae: Discosomaticinae)

Roquettea decioi sp. nov. is described from Carolina, in the Brazilian state of Maranhão. It is the seventh species in Roquettea Mello-Leitão, 1931 and the eighth species of Opiliones recorded from the state. Roquettea decioi sp. nov may be characterized by ocularium low, with median depression, pedipalpal tibia without pseudo-finger forming chela and massive divergent protuberances on scutal area III

A new species of Pherania Strand, 1942 from southern Brazil (Arachnida: Opiliones: Gonyleptidae)

Kury, Adriano B. (2003): A new species of Pherania Strand, 1942 from southern Brazil (Arachnida: Opiliones: Gonyleptidae). Zootaxa 363: 1-8, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15632