Biantidae is a family of the harvestman infraorder Grassatores with about 130 described species.[1]
| Biantidae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Opiliones |
| Suborder: | Laniatores |
| Infraorder: | Grassatores |
| Superfamily: | Samooidea |
| Family: | Biantidae Thorell, 1889 |
| Genera | |
|
See text for list | |
| Diversity | |
| c. 30 genera, c. 130 species | |
Description edit
Biantidae are between 1.5 and 5.5 millimeters long, with legs ranging from three to 25 mm and enlarged, armed pedipalps. Many species are mahogany, many others yellow with dark mottling.[1]
Distribution edit
Biantidae have radiated greatly on the Indian subcontinent and Madagascar (which was once connected to India), with many other species from mainland Africa. One subfamily however, the Stenostygninae, is found on the West Indies, with one described species from mainland northern South America.[1]
Relationships edit
Biantidae are included in the superfamily Samooidea, which mainly radiated in South America.[1]
Name edit
The type genus is named after Biantes, the son of Parthenopaeus, one of the Epigoni who marched against Thebes in Greek mythology.[1]
Genera edit
For a list of all described species, see the List of Biantidae species.
Biantinae edit
- Anaceros Lawrence, 1959 — Madagascar (4 species)
- Biantella Roewer, 1927 — Cameroon (1 species)
- Biantes Simon, 1885 — Nepal, India, Burma, Sumatra, Seychelles (30 species)
- Biantessus Roewer, 1949 — South Africa (2 species)
- Biantomma Roewer, 1942 — Bioko (1 species)
- Clinobiantes Roewer, 1927 — Cameroon (1 species)
- Cryptobiantes Kauri, 1962 (1 species)
- Eubiantes Roewer, 1915 — eastern Africa (1 species)
- Fageibiantes Roewer, 1949 — Madagascar (2 species)
- Hinzuanius Karsch, 1880 — Madagascar, Socotra, Comoros, Ethiopia (14 species)
- Ivobiantes Lawrence, 1965 (1 species)
- Metabiantes Roewer, 1915 — Africa (41 species)
- Monobiantes Lawrence, 1962 (1 species)
- Probiantes Roewer, 1927 — India (1 species)
Lacurbsinae edit
- Eulacurbs Roewer, 1949 — Ghana (1 species)
- Heterolacurbs Roewer, 1912 — Togo (1 species)
- Lacurbs Sørensen, 1896 — Cameroon, Ivory Coast (2 species)
- Metalacurbs Roewer, 1914 — western Africa (4 species)
- Prolacurbs Roewer, 1949 — Ghana (1 species)
Stenostygninae edit
- Bidoma Silhavy, 1973 — Haiti (1 species)
- Caribbiantes Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (1 species)
- Decuella Avram, 1977 — Cuba (1 species)
- Galibrotus Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (3 species)
- Heterolacurbs Roewer, 1912 — Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands (2 species, inc. Martibianta Silhavy, 1973) (!After Hallan)
- Manahunca Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (3 species)
- Negreaella Avram, 1977 — Cuba (5 species)
- Stenostygnus Simon, 1879 — northern South America (1 species)
- Vestitecola Silhavy, 1973 — Haiti (1 species)
Zairebiantinae edit
- Zairebiantes H. Kauri, 1985 — Zaire (1 species)
Footnotes edit
References edit
- Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog: Biantidae
- Pinto-da-Rocha, R., Machado, G. & Giribet, G. (eds.) (2007): Harvestmen - The Biology of Opiliones. Harvard University Press ISBN 0-674-02343-9