Icaleptidae
Encyclopedia
The Icaleptidae are a small family of neotropical harvestmen within the suborder Laniatores
. Although only two species have been described, many more are probably to be discovered.
, a Chibchan people inhabiting the slopes of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
, and the second half of the genus Gonyleptes (Gonyleptidae
), the first described harvestman in Laniatores
.
-like habitus.
(Cotopaxi
) and northern Colombia (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), they are expected to occur in Venezuela
. Both species were found in leaf litter. The type material of the two species was collected in 1968 (I. malkini) and 1993 (Z. platnicki).
and Fissiphalliidae
. Some species that now reside in other families, such as Phalangodinella (Zalmoxidae) share similarities with the species in Icaleptidae. It is possible that several species now in other families will be transferred here.
Laniatores
Laniatores is the largest suborder of the arachnid order Opiliones with over 4,000 described species worldwide. The majority of the species are highly dependent on humid environments and usually correlated with tropical and temperate forest habitats....
. Although only two species have been described, many more are probably to be discovered.
Name
The name of the type genus is combined from IcaIca Region
Ica is a region in Peru. It borders the Pacific Ocean on the west; the Lima Region on the north; the Huancavelica and Ayacucho regions on the east; and the Arequipa Region on the south. Its capital is the city of Ica.- Geography :...
, a Chibchan people inhabiting the slopes of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is an isolated mountain range apart from the Andes chain that runs through Colombia. Reaching an altitude of 5,700 metres above sea level just 42 km from the Caribbean coast, the Sierra Nevada is the world's highest coastal range...
, and the second half of the genus Gonyleptes (Gonyleptidae
Gonyleptidae
Gonyleptidae is a Neotropical family of harvestmen with more than 800 species, the largest in the Suborder Laniatores and the second largest of the Opiiones as a whole...
), the first described harvestman in Laniatores
Laniatores
Laniatores is the largest suborder of the arachnid order Opiliones with over 4,000 described species worldwide. The majority of the species are highly dependent on humid environments and usually correlated with tropical and temperate forest habitats....
.
Description
The two described species have their fourth pair of legs ventrally inserted, giving them a fleaFlea
Flea is the common name for insects of the order Siphonaptera which are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood...
-like habitus.
Distribution
Although Icaleptidae have until now only been described from EcuadorEcuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
(Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about south of Quito, Ecuador, South America. It is the second highest summit in the country, reaching a height of...
) and northern Colombia (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), they are expected to occur in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Both species were found in leaf litter. The type material of the two species was collected in 1968 (I. malkini) and 1993 (Z. platnicki).
Relationships
This new family is closely related to ZalmoxidaeZalmoxidae
The Zalmoxidae are a family of harvestmen within the suborder Laniatores.-Description:Zalmoxidae are small Laniatores of dark brown to dark yellow color with varied darker mottling. Some small edaphic species are pale yellowish.-Distribution:...
and Fissiphalliidae
Fissiphalliidae
The Fissiphalliidae are a small neotropical family of harvestmen within the suborder Laniatores.-Name:The name of the type genus is combined from Latin fissus "split" and Ancient Greek phallos "penis".-Description:...
. Some species that now reside in other families, such as Phalangodinella (Zalmoxidae) share similarities with the species in Icaleptidae. It is possible that several species now in other families will be transferred here.
Species
- Icaleptes Kury & Pérez, 2002
- Icaleptes malkini Kury & Pérez, 2002
- Zalmopsylla Kury & Pérez, 2002
- Zalmopsylla platnicki Kury & Pérez, 2002