New species of mite harvestmen from the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia, with commentary on biogeography of the genus Austropurcellia (Opiliones: Cyphophthalmi: Pettalidae)

Abstract

Abstract Cyphophthalmi, commonly known as mite harvestmen, are a suborder of cryptic Opiliones with a global distribution. The genus Austropurcellia Juberthie 1988 is a lineage of mite harvestmen currently known from a small number of localities in the forests of Queensland, Australia. We describe four new species of Austropurcellia (A. alata, A. culminis, A. despectata, and A. vicina) from museum lots; each new species is known from only a single collection and few specimens. We present the first key to the species of Austropurcellia, a catalogue of known collecting localities, and a distribution map. Although our current knowledge of the diversity and distribution of this genus is certainly incomplete, it is clear that these narrow-range endemics have great potential as a system for understanding the role of historical forest fragmentation in the evolution of rainforest animals.