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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

The poorly known genus Ventrifurca Roewer, 1913 revisited (Opiliones: Cranaidae)

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Author(s):
Villarreal, Osvaldo M. [1] ; Kury, Adriano B. [1] ; Pinto-da-Rocha, Ricardo [2]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacl, Dept Invertebrados, BR-20940040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Zool, Inst Biociencias, BR-05422970 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: ZOOLOGICAL STUDIES; v. 54, JUN 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 2
Abstract

Background: The distinction of genera in Cranaidae (as in many other Gonyleptoidea) is traditionally made on the basis of a combination of armature of scutal areas, tarsomere counts, and some secondary sexual structures (which may vary among males). This historically led to the creation of non-natural groups of species as meaningless genera. Here some nominal genera of Cranaidae are addressed, and this paucity of diagnostic characters is alleviated with more detailed diagnoses and descriptions. Results: The poorly known genus Ventrifurca Roewer, 1913, hitherto monotypic, is revisited. The genera Microcranaus Roewer, 1913 (with three species), Cayabeus Roewer, 1932 (monotypic), and Angistrius (monotypic) are here proposed as junior subjective synonyms of Ventrifurca. Both type species of Microcranaus and Cayabeus are considered junior subjective synonyms of Ventrifurca albipustulata; thus, Cayabeus perlatus Roewer, 1932 and Microcranaus pustulatus Roewer, 1913 = Ventrifurca albipustulata Roewer, 1913. Ventrifurca abnormis comb. nov. is proposed for Angistrius abnormis Roewer, 1932. Rhopalocranaus dybasi Goodnight \& Goodnight, 1947, currently Neocranaus dybasi, is transferred to Ventrifurca, and the new combination Ventrifurca dybasi comb. nov. is herein proposed for it. Ventrifurca albipustulata is redescribed, and for the first time, the male genitalia is described and illustrated, and SEM pictures are offered. The new species Ventrifurca caffeinica sp. nov. is described from Quindio department, Colombia. A new diagnosis to Ventrifurca is proposed. The relationships of Ventrifurca are discussed. The remaining two species of Microcranaus are transferred to the family Manaosbiidae: (1) Microcranaus columbianus newly combined as Rhopalocranaus columbianus (Roewer, 1963) and (2) Microcranaus gracilis newly combined as Camelianus gracilis (Roewer, 1913). New diagnoses are given for both species. Conclusions: A non-monotypic genus of Andean Cranaidae is defined, associated with a well-defined geographic region, and unloaded of extraneous species which belong to another family. Recognition of variation in heteromorphic males reveals past errors of assignment when only limited samples were available for study. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/50297-0 - Dimensions US-BIOTA São Paulo: a multidisciplinary framework for biodiversity prediction in the Brazilian Atlantic forest hotspot
Grantee:Cristina Yumi Miyaki
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 09/17206-5 - Phylogenetic position of the lineages of Promitobates with emphasis on the limits and philogeography of the P. ornatus complex (Laniatores, Gonyleptidae, Mitobatinae)
Grantee:Cibele Bragagnolo
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral