Rhaucoides Roewer, 1912, an Andean genus with fused tarsomeres: revision with a new generic synonymy and two new species (Opiliones: Cosmetidae: Metergininae)

Abstract. Rhaucoides Roewer, 1912 is herein revisited and re-diagnosed based on somatic and genital morphology, including the differences of both expanded and unexpanded glans complex shown for the first time in Cosmetidae. The genus is characterized mainly by abdominal ornamentation, coloration and by having the two basalmost tarsomeres of leg I fused. The genus Cumbalia Roewer, 1963 is newly considered a junior synonym of Rhaucoides. The species Cumbalia octomaculata Roewer, 1963, Rhaucoides festae Roewer 1925 and Rhaucoides sulfureus Mello-Leitão 1939 are considered junior subjective synonyms of Rhaucoides riveti Roewer, 1919. Erginus devillei Simon 1879 (currently in Metarhaucus) is transferred to Rhaucoides, resulting in Rhaucoides devillei (Simon 1879), comb. nov. Rhaucoides atahualpa sp. nov. and Rhaucoides nasa sp. nov. are described from Ecuador and Colombia, respectively. Comments about the genital and tarsal morphology in Cosmetidae are provided. A map with the known distribution of the genus, in the Andes of southern Colombia and northern Ecuador, is given. Finally, emended diagnoses are provided for the genera Rhauculus Roewer, 1927 and Reimoserius Roewer 1947. After the type species of Metarhaucus Pickard-Cambridge, 1905 was transferred to Rhaucus Simon, 1879, a few species remained without formal generic allocation. All of those are herein combined either with Rhaucoides (1 species), Rhauculus (5 species) or Reimoserius (1 species).