A mysterious dwarf: Suthepiidae nov. fam., a new harvestman family from mountains of northern Thailand (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores)

Abstract

Abstract: A new family of laniatorean harvestmen from northern Thailand is proposed, Suthepiidae fam. nov., which comprises one new genus and one new species, Suthepia inermis sp. nov. This family stands out by characters hitherto unknown or rarely recorded for Opiliones, and close relatives of this taxon are presently not discernible. Important characters are a short and compact penis with a massively enlarged distal part with a rich armament of sclerites and membranes which can be moved and everted by hemolymph pressure during mating; the pedipalp of males and females is without raptorial adaptations, i.e. elevated sockets (= apophyses) carrying strong distal spines are completely absent, therefore no prey capture basket is present; the male pedipalpal tarsus is enlarged and compressed, its dorso-distal double apophysis presumably contains a gland; the pedipalpal claw is weak, not longer or stronger than long hyaline setae on the dorso-distal apophysis of the tarsus. The only specimens presently known were found in litter of a few forested mountain stocks, between 450 m and 1400 m altitude. A brief overview of Southeast Asian laniatorean families is presented.