Zalmoxidae

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Zalmoxidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Opiliones
Suborder: Laniatores
Infraorder: Grassatores
Superfamily: Zalmoxoidea
Family: Zalmoxidae
Sørensen, 1886
Diversity
c. 70 genera, > 200 species
Genera

see text
Synonyms
  • Zalmoxioidae L. Koch, 1886
  • Stygnoleptinae Soares, 1972
  • Fissiphalliidae Martens, 1988

The Zalmoxidae are a family of harvestmen within the suborder Laniatores.

Contents

[edit] Name

Zalmoxis is the name of a Thracian Dacian god.[1]

[edit] Description

Zalmoxidae are small Laniatores of dark brown to dark yellow color with varied darker mottling. Some small edaphic species are pale yellowish.[1]

[edit] Distribution

Members of this family are distributed throughout most tropical regions of the world, with the notable exception of mainland Africa. While most occur from Costa Rica to Brazil, with a center of diversity in Venezuela, others are found in Oceania, with many species in New Guinea. Some species are found on the Seychelles and Mauritius, although the single species described from Madagascar does not belong to Zalmoxidae.[1]

[edit] Systematics

For a list of currently described species, see the List of Zalmoxidae species.

[edit] Relationships

Zalmoxidae are closely related to Icaleptidae and Fissiphalliidae. The latter will possibly be merged into Zalmoxidae, although much research is to be done in this field.[1]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d Kury, Adriano B. & Pérez González, Abel (2007): Zalmoxidae Sørensen, 1886. In: Pinto-da-Rocha et al. 2007: 243ff

[edit] References

  • Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog: Zalmoxidae
  • Pinto-da-Rocha, R., Machado, G. & Giribet, G. (eds.) (2007): Harvestmen - The Biology of Opiliones. Harvard University Press ISBN 0-674-02343-9