Abstract
The Cranaidae genus Phalangodus Gervais, 1842 is revisited and its species are diagnosed. An identification key for the males of Phalangodus is provided. Four Colombian species are described as new: Phalangodus briareos sp. nov. from a cave in Zapatoca, Santander department, P. cottus sp. nov. from Villavicencio, Meta department, P. gyes sp. nov. from Ibagué, Tolima department and P. kuryi sp. nov. from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Magdalena department. SEM images of the penis of Phalangodus, including the type species of the genus, P. anacosmetus Gervais, 1842, are provided for the first time. Sexual dimorphism and the morphology of stylar caps and ovipositor in Cranaidae are discussed. Additionally, we revised the geographical distribution of P. anacosmetus, including a map with the geographical records of the genus.
Highlights
Cranaidae is the third most numerous family among Gonyleptoidea with 166 species (Kury 2013; Hara et al 2014; Kury & Villarreal 2015; Villarreal et al 2015)
The three main issues that lead to this situation are: 1) antique diagnoses of the genera that still follow the Roewerian system of classification, i.e., use of variable characters to establish artificial groups, as shown by several authors (e.g., Piza 1942; Kury 1990; Villarreal et al 2015); 2) underestimation of the specific richness of many cranaid groups and 3) lack of revision, only a few genera have been revised according to modern standards (i.e., Pinto-da-Rocha & Kury 2003; Pinto-da-Rocha & Bonaldo 2011; Kury 2012a; Hara et al 2014; Villarreal et al 2015)
The nomenclature of the macrosetae of penis ventral plate follows Kury & Villarreal (2015) with the following modification: in Phalangodus there is an increase of the number of macrosetae that makes it difficult to distinguish between some MS groups (e.g., MS D from MS C or MS B from MS A)
Summary
Cranaidae is the third most numerous family among Gonyleptoidea with 166 species (Kury 2013; Hara et al 2014; Kury & Villarreal 2015; Villarreal et al 2015). The taxonomy and systematics of this group are complicated and the generic boundaries are poorly defined, as partially explained by Villarreal et al (2015). Despite being composed of large and common harvestmen (dorsal scutum length = 9–13 mm), its specific richness is still underestimated. It was described as a monotypic genus (P. anacosmetus Gervais, 1842) in Gonyleptidae, without any subfamilial assignment and was posteriorly, included in Mitobatinae (Simon, 1879). More than 80 years later, Kury (1996) transferred Phalangodus to Cranaidae, redescribed the type species of the genus, proposed the Iquitosa Roewer, 1943 as a junior synonym of Phalangodus and synonymized Allocranaus giganteus Mello-Leitão, 1940 with P. anacosmetus. Hara et al (2014) revalidated Iquitosa and synonymized Temucus Roewer, 1943 with Phalangodus
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