A redescription and family placement of Buemarinoa patrizii Roewer, 1956 (Opiliones, Laniatores, Triaenonychidae)

Abstract

Buemarinoa patrizii Roewer, 1956, from a Sardinian Cave and Fumontana deprehendor Shear, 1977, from the Appalachian Region of eastern North America, are closely related and are the only representatives of the temperate Gondwanan family Triaenonychidae in the Northern Hemisphere. Based on their relevant characteristics, these two species, together with Flavonuncia pupila Lawrence, 1959, from Madagascar, are placed into a new tribus Buemarinoini tribus n., which represents an old phyletic lineage. It is a unique case of a phyletic lineage (tribus in this case) with three representatives present on three different continents. The elongated appendages in troglobite Buemarinoa patrizii are not treated as a troglomorphic trait. Elongation of appendages in troglobionts is not an adaptation, but a precondition for settling in a subterranean environment. The main morphological differences of Fumontana deprehendor in comparision with Buemarinoa patrizii are treated as apomorhic. The unique terminal structure of the male copulatory apparatus, which includes a pair of flanking setose arms, a pair of glans glands and bifurcated sperm duct, define the Buemarinoini tribus n. Based on the male penis structure, Buemarinoini tribus n., shows closeness to a complex of species gathered around the genera Ceratomontia, Austromontia and Monomontia from South Africa and South America. The origin of Buemarinoini must be related to the areas of Northern Gondwana, from where Fumontana penetrated deeper into Laurasia. Lectotypes are designated for Buemarinoa patrizii type material