Abstract
In Opiliones, male genital morphology plays a key role in systematics and understanding the evolution of the group because functional modifications often outline higher taxonomic levels. In Nemastomatidae, different lat- eral stabilizing structures on the penial truncus cane devel- oped independently. These wing-like protuberances serve as anchor points for two muscular tendons and are interpreted traditionallyasgenericcharacters.Anewlydiscoveredspecies from Monte Saccarello in the Ligurian Alps of North-western Italy is unique in providing anchor points as stabilizing parts of the distal truncus cane below the glans by short and narrow lateral folds. To place this unusual species within the Nem- astomatidae one must re-evaluate the usefulness of male gen- italmorphologicalandothercharactersusedinthesystematics of the family. The resulting phylogenetic framework is sup- plemented with available molecular genetic data. Based on both datasets, the creation of a new genus seems justified. Saccarella schilleri gen. n. sp. n. is subsequently described and further defined. The endemism and biogeography of the harvestmen fauna in the South-western Alps are discussed with respect to this enigmatic genus.
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