Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Articles
Published: 2006-06-23
Page range: 21–36
Abstract views: 58
PDF downloaded: 40

Natural history and distribution of the enigmatic southern Appalachian opilionid, Fumontana deprehendor Shear (Laniatores: Triaenonychidae), with an assessment of morphological variation

Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-4614, U.S.A.
Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-4614, U.S.A.
Opiliones Appalachian mountains cryophilic arthropod cryptic species

Abstract

The opilionid species Fumontana deprehendor Shear, 1977 (Laniatores: Triaenonychidae) represents a monotypic genus, previously known from only four specimens collected at two published localities, both old-growth forest sites in the southern Appalachian mountains. In an effort to increase the biogeographic and taxonomic information available for this phylogenetically and morphologically unique opilionid, we undertook a focused sampling effort throughout the southern Appalachians. These field efforts uncovered both more individuals (n = 141) and a broader distributional range (22 newly-discovered populations) for this monotypic genus. Examination of both somatic and penis morphology reveals little geographic variation across spatially disjunct populations. Our results provide a new perspective on conservation priorities for F. deprehendor. Rather than representing a single, hyper-rare taxon of limited distribution, our data suggest a broader distribution across the uplands of the southern Appalachians. We recommend that conservation attention be focused on learning more about the distribution, biology and relative rarity of F. deprehendor in the smaller, geographically isolated units.

References

  1. Bond, J.E., Hedin, M.C., Ramirez, M.G. & Opell, B.D. (2001) Deep molecular divergence in the absence of morphological and ecological change in the Californian coastal dune endemic trapdoor spider Aptostichus simus. Molecular Ecology, 10, 899–910.

    Bond, J.E. & Sierwald, P. (2002) Cryptic speciation in the Anadenobolus excisus millipede species complex on the island of Jamaica. Evolution, 56, 1123–1355.

    Bond, J.E. (2004) Systematics of the Californian euctenizine spider genus Apomastus (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Cyrtaucheniidae): the relationship between molecular and morphological taxonomy. Invertebrate Systematics, 18, 361–376.

    Briggs, T.S. (1967) An emendation for Zuma acuta Goodnight & Goodnight (Opiliones). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 43, 89.

    Briggs, T.S. (1971) The harvestmen of family Triaenonychidae in North America (Opiliones). Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences, 90, 1–43.

    Catley, K.M. (1994) Descriptions of new Hypochilus species from New Mexico and California with a cladistic analysis of the Hypochilidae (Araneae). American Museum Noviates, 3088, 1–27.

    Hedin, M.C. (1997) Speciational history in a diverse clade of habitat-specialized spiders (Araneae: Nesticidae: Nesticus): Inferences from geographic-based sampling. Evolution, 51, 1929–1945.

    Hedin, M.C. (2001) Molecular insights into species phylogeny, biogeography, and morphological stasis in the ancient spider genus Hypochilus (Araneae: Hypochilidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 18, 238–251.

    Hoffman, R.L. (1965) A second species in the diplopod genus Choctella (Spirostreptida: Choctellidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 78, 55–58.

    Hoffman, R.L. (1999) Checklist of the millipedes of North and Middle America. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication, 8, 1–581.

    Kane, T.C., Barr, T.C. & Stratton, G.E. (1990) Genetic patterns and population structure in Appalachian Trechus of the vandykei group. Brimleyana, 16, 133–150.

    Kury, A.B. (2003) Annotated catalogue of the Laniatores of the New World (Arachnida, Opiliones). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología, 1, 5–337.

    Polasky, S., Csuti, B., Vossler, C.A. & Meyers, S.M. (2001) A comparison of taxonomic distinctness versus richness as criteria for setting conservation priorities for North American birds. Biological Conservation, 97, 99–105.

    Rodrigues, A.S.L. & Gaston, K.J. (2002) Maximising phylogenetic diversity in the selection of networks of conservation areas. Biological Conservation, 105, 103–111.

    Shear, W.A. (1977) Fumontana deprehendor, n. gen., n. sp., the first triaenonychid opilionid from eastern North America (Opiliones: Laniatores: Triaenonychidae). Journal of Arachnology, 3, 177–183.

    Shear, W.A. (1978) A new record for the rare opilionid Fumontana deprehendor (Opiliones, Triaenonychidae). Journal of Arachnology, 6, 79.

    Ubick, D. & Briggs, T.S. (1989) The harvestman family Phalangodidae. 1. The new genus Calicina, with notes on Sitalcina (Opiliones: Laniatores). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 46, 95–136.

    Wilcox, T.P., Hugg, L., Zeh, J.A. & Zeh, D.W. (1997) Mitochondrial DNA sequencing reveals extreme genetic differentiation in a cryptic species complex of neotropical pseudoscorpions. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 7, 208–216.