Christopher K. Taylor

Further notes on New Zealand Enantiobuninae (Opiliones, Neopilionidae), with the description of a new genus and two new species

Abstract Mangatangi parvum gen. n. and sp. and Forsteropsalis pureroa sp. n. are described from the North Island of New Zealand. Pantopsalis listeri (White 1849) and Pantopsalis cheliferoides (Colenso 1882) are redescribed and no longer regarded as nomina dubia; Pantopsalis luna (Forster 1944) is identified as a junior synonym of Pantopsalis listeri. A key to Pantopsalis species is provided.

A new species of Monoscutinae (Arachnida, Opiliones, Monoscutidae) from New Zealand, with a redescription of Monoscutum titirangiense

Abstract Templar incongruens new genus and species (Monoscutidae) is described and assigned to the subfamily Monoscutinae (Opiliones). It is distinguished from other Monoscutinae by different ornamentation, relatively shorter legs, and enlarged chelicerae in the male. A redescription of Monoscutum titirangiense Forster 1948 is also given.

Further revision of the genus Megalopsalis (Opiliones, Neopilionidae), with the description of seven new species.

Abstract The Australian harvestmen genus Megalopsalis (Neopilionidae: Enantiobuninae) is recognised as a senior synonym of the genera Spinicrus and Hypomegalopsalis, and seven new species are described in Megalopsalis: Megalopsalis suffugiens, Megalopsalis walpolensis, Megalopsalis caeruleomontium, Megalopsalis atrocidiana, Megalopsalis coronata, Megalopsalis puerilis and Megalopsalis sublucens. A morphological phylogenetic analysis of the Enantiobuninae is also conducted including the new species. Monophyly of Neopilionidae and Enantiobuninae including ‘Monoscutidae’ is corroborated, with the Australasian taxa as a possible sister clade to the South American Thrasychirus.

First record of a representative of Ballarrinae (Opiliones: Neopilionidae), Americovibone remota sp. nov., from New Zealand

Abstract Americovibone remota sp. nov. is described as the first New Zealand representative of the Ballarrinae, a Gondwanan-distributed group of harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones: Palpatores), from a female collected at Dart Hut in Mount Aspiring National Park. Though closely allied by external and ovipositor morphology to Americovibone lanfrancoae Hunt & Cokendolpher, 1991 of southern South America, A. remota lacks the reflexed pedipalpal tibia previously regarded as characteristic of the Ballarrinae. The genus Americovibone is restricted to austral Nothofagus forests which have a similar trans-Pacific distribution.

Notes on phalangiidae (Arachnida: Opiliones) of southern Africa with description of new species and comments on within-species variation

Notes are provided on a collection of Afrotropical harvestmen (Opiliones: Palpatores: Phalangiidae) from the California Academy of Sciences. A new species of Rhampsinitus, R. conjunctidens n. sp., is described from Limpopo province of South Africa. Rhampsinitus flavobrunneus Staręga 2009 and R. silvaticus Lawrence 1931 are recognised as junior synonyms of R. nubicolus Lawrence 1963 and R. vittatus Lawrence 1931, respectively. Both R. conjunctidens and R. nubicolus are recognised as exhibiting strong male dimorphism with major males exhibiting larger body size and greatly enlarged chelicerae relative to minor males; minor males cannot be readily identified to species without examination of genitalia. A discussion is also provided on generic boundaries within Afrotropical Phalangiidae, and a generic key to males of the region is presented.

Two new species of harvestmen (Opiliones, Eupnoi, Neopilionidae) from Waitomo, New Zealand.

Abstract Two new species of harvestman (Opiliones: Neopilionidae: Enantiobuninae) are described from the Waitomo region of the North Island, New Zealand, Forsteropsalis bona sp. n. and F. photophaga sp. n. Both have been collected within caves in the region, where predation on glow-worms Arachnocampa luminosa has been previously recorded for one or both species (misidentified as ‘Megalopsalis tumida’). However, both are regarded as troglophiles rather than strict troglobites due to the presence of specimens outside the cave systems, and the absence of troglobitic adaptations. Megalopsalis tumida (Forster, 1944) is identified as a junior synonym of Forsteropsalis fabulosa (Phillipps & Grimmett, 1932).