Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5389 No. 1: 18 Dec. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-12-18
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5389.1.2
Page range: 34-54
Abstract views: 251
PDF downloaded: 12

New species of Paktongius and convergent evolution of the gonyleptoid-like habitus in Southeast Asian Assamiidae (Opiliones: Laniatores)

Department of Integrative Biology; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison; WI; USA 53706
Department of Integrative Biology; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison; WI; USA 53706
Opiliones Grassatores Assamioidea sexual dimorphism southeast Asia microendemism

Abstract

The armored harvestman family Assamiidae (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores) is widely distributed throughout the Old World tropics, specifically throughout tropical Asia and Central Africa. However, the systematics and intrafamilial relationships of the group remain poorly understood. This can be largely attributed to the complicated taxonomic history of the group, which is exemplified by poorly supported subfamily classifications and the prevalence of monotypic genera. Here, we describe four new species of the formerly monotypic genus Paktongius Suzuki, 1969, using specimens collected from Laos, Thailand, and West Malaysia, suggesting a degree of microendemism within the group, which underscores the need for greater sampling of the southeast Asian arachnofauna. Recent phylogenetic analysis has also suggested that Mysorea thaiensis Suzuki, 1985 nests within a clade composed of Paktongius distinctus Suzuki, 1969 and the species described herein (P. suzukii sp. nov., P. spiculosus sp. nov., P. paritensis sp. nov., P. furculus sp. nov.). We therefore transfer Mysorea thaiensis to Paktongius (P. thaiensis comb. nov.). We also comment on the unique morphology of this highly derived group of harvestmen, which appears to suggest convergent evolution of the gonyleptoid-like morphology, complete with the characteristic exaggerated leg four coxae and laterally expanded scutum.

 

References

  1. Adams, J.M., Kang, C. & June-Wells, M. (2014) Are tropical butterflies more colorful? Ecological Research, 29, 685–691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-014-1154-1
  2. Aharon, S., Ballesteros, J.A., Crawford, A.R., Friske, K., Gainett, G., Langford, B., Santibáñez-López, C.E., Ya’aran, S., Gavish-Regev, E. & Sharma, P.P. (2019) The anatomy of an unstable node: a Levantine relict precipitates phylogenomic dissolution of higher-level relationships of the armoured harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores). Invertebrate Systematics, 31, 2553–21. https://doi.org/10.1071/is19002
  3. Benavides, L.R., Pinto-da-Rocha, R. & Giribet, G. (2021) The phylogeny and evolution of the flashiest of the armored harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). In: Barrow, L. (Ed.), Systematic Biology, 70, pp. 648–659. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syaa080
  4. Buzatto, B.A. & Machado, G. (2014) Male dimorphism and alternative reproductive tactics in harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). Behavioral Processes, 109, 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.06.008
  5. Derkarabetian, S., Lord, A., Angier, K., Frigvik, E. & Giribet, G. (2023) An Opiliones-specific ultraconserved element probe set with a near-complete family-level phylogeny. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 187, 107887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107887
  6. Fujimoto, S., Miyake, T. & Yamahira, K. (2015) Latitudinal variation in male competitiveness and female choosiness in a fish: Are sexual selection pressures stronger at lower latitudes? Evolutionary Biology, 42, 75–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-014-9300-9
  7. García-Hernández, S. & Machado, G. (2018) Convergent fighting behavior in two species of Neotropical harvestmen (Opiliones): insights on the evolution of maternal care and resource defense polygyny. The Journal of Arachnology, 46, 165–169. https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-17-070.1
  8. Kury, A.B. & Pinto-da-Rocha, R. (2007) Gonyleptidae Sundevall, 1833. In: Pinto-da-Rocha, R., Machado, G. & Giribet, G. (Eds.), Harvestmen, the biology of Opiliones. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, pp. 196–203.
  9. Martens, J. (1993) Further cases of paternal care in Opiliones (Arachnida). Tropical Zoology, 6 (1), 97–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.1993.10539212
  10. Monteiro, Y.G. & Pinto-da-Rocha, R. (2015) Revision of the genus Ferkeria Roewer, 1947, with the description of a new species (Opiliones: Laniatores: Cosmetidae). Zootaxa, 4006 (2), 361–373. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4006.2.7
  11. Murphree, C.S. (1988) Morphology of the dorsal integument of ten opilionid species (Arachnida, Opiliones). The Journal of Arachnology, 16 (2), 237–252.
  12. Osses, F., Nazareth, T.M. & Machado, G. (2008) Activity pattern of the Neotropical harvestman Neosadocus maximus (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae): sexual and temporal variations. The Journal of Arachnology, 36, 518–526. https://doi.org/10.1636/St06-48.1
  13. Palmieri, L., Giribet, G. & Sharma, P.P. (2023) Too early for the ferry: The biogeographic history of the Assamiidae of southeast Asia (Chelicerata: Opiliones, Laniatores). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 178, 107647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107647
  14. Pagoti, G.F., Portela, E., Campanha, J.S., Dias, J.M. & Willemart, R.H. (2019) On the function of the spoon-shaped pedipalps of harvestmen in the family Cosmetidae (Opiliones, Laniatores). Journal of Natural History, 53 (33–34), 2087–2098. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2019.1692086
  15. Roewer, C.F. (1913) Die Familie der Gonyleptiden der Opiliones—Laniatores. [Part 2]. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, Abteilung A, 79 (5), 257–472.
  16. Roewer, C.F. (1935) Alte und neue Assamiidae. Weitere Weberknechte VIII. Veröffentlichungen aus dem Deutschen Kolonial- und Übersee-Museum in Bremen, 1 (1), 1–168.
  17. Sharma, P.P., Prieto, C.E. & Giribet, G. (2011) A new family of Laniatores (Arachnida: Opiliones) from the Afrotropics. Invertebrate Systematics, 25, 143–154. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS11003
  18. Sharma, P.P. & Giribet, G. (2011) The evolutionary and biogeographic history of the armoured harvestmen–Laniatores phylogeny based on ten molecular markers, with the description of two new families of Opiliones (Arachnida). Invertebrate Systematics, 25, 106–142. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS11002
  19. Sharma, P.P. (2012) New Australasian Zalmoxidae (Opiliones: Laniatores) and a new case of male polymorphism in Opiliones. Zootaxa, 3236 (1), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3236.1.1
  20. Sørensen, W.E. (1884) Opiliones Laniatores (Gonyleptides W.S. Olim) Musei Hauniensis. Naturhistorisk Tidsskrift, 14, 555–646.
  21. Sumarto, B.K.A., Kobayashi, H., Kakioka, R., Tanaka, R., Maeda, K., Tran, H.D., Koizumi, N., Morioka, S., Bounsong, V., Watanabe, K., Musikasinthorn, P., Tun, S., Yun, L.K.C., Anoop, V.K., Raghavan, R., Masengi, K.W.A., Fujimoto, S. & Yamahira, K. (2020) Latitudinal variation in sexual dimorphism in a freshwater fish group. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 131, 898–908. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blaa166
  22. Sundevall, C.J. (1833) Conspectus Arachnidum. C.F. Berling, Londini Gothorum, 39 pp.
  23. Suzuki, S. (1969) Some phalangids from Thailand. Journal of Science of the Hiroshima University, Series B, Division 1 (Zoology), 22 (3), 79–101, pl. I.
  24. Suzuki, S. (1985) A synopsis of the Opiliones of Thailand (Arachnida) I. Cyphophthalmi and Laniatores. Streenstrupia, 11 (3), 69–110.
  25. Tarr, S., Meiri, S., Hicks, J.J. & Algar, A.C. (2019) A biogeographic reversal in sexual size dimorphism along a continental temperature gradient. Ecography, 42, 706–716. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.03593
  26. Thorell, T.T.T. (1876) Sopra alcuni Opilioni (Phalangidea) d'Europa e dell' Asia occidentale, con un quadro dei generi europei di quest' Ordine. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 8, 452–508.
  27. Townsend, V.R., Rana, N.J., Proud, D.N., Moore, M.K., Rock, P. & Felgenhauer, B.E. (2009) Morphological changes during postembryonic development in two species of neotropical harvestmen (Opiliones, Laniatores, Cranaidae). Journal of Morphology, 270 (9), 1055–1068. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.10742
  28. Willemart, R.H., Osses, F., Chelini, M.C., Macías-Ordóñez, R. & Machado, G. (2009) Sexually dimorphic legs in a neotropical harvestman (Arachnida, Opiliones): Ornament or weapon? Behavioural Processes, 80, 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2008.09.006
  29. Wright, E.P. (1878) Tropical Nature and other Essays. Nature, 18, 140–141. https://doi.org/10.1038/018140a0
  30. Zatz, C., Werneck, R.M., Macías-Ordóñez, R. & Machado, G. (2011) Alternative mating tactics in dimorphic males of the harvestman Longiperna concolor (Arachnida: Opiliones). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65, 995–1005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-010-1103-0
  31. Zhang, C. & Zhang, F. (2015) The assamiids harvestmen (Opiliones: Laniatores: Assamiidae) from Champasak Province, Laos. Zootaxa, 3964 (3), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3964.3.3