Icaleptidae

Taxobox


image_caption =
image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Opiliones
subordo = Laniatores
infraordo = Grassatores
superfamilia = Zalmoxoidea
familia = Icaleptidae
familia_authority = Kury & Pérez, 2002
diversity_link = Icaleptidae
diversity = 2 monotypic genera
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "see text"

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.Kury & Pérez 2002]

Name

The name of the type genus is combined from Ica, 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.aut|Kury, Adriano B. & Pérez González, Abel (2007): Icaleptidae Kury & Pérez G., 2002. In: Pinto-da-Rocha "et al." 2007: 205ff]

Description

The two described species have their fourth pair of legs ventrally inserted, giving them a flea-like habitus.

Distribution

Although Icaleptidae have until now only been described from Ecuador (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").

Relationships

This new family is closely related to Zalmoxidae 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.

pecies

* "Icaleptes" Kury & Pérez, 2002:* "Icaleptes malkini" Kury & Pérez, 2002

* "Zalmopsylla" Kury & Pérez, 2002:* "Zalmopsylla platnicki" Kury & Pérez, 2002

Footnotes

References

* Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog: [http://insects.tamu.edu/research/collection/hallan/Acari/Family/Icaleptidae.txt Icaleptidae]
* (2002): A new family of Laniatores from northwestern South America (Arachnida, Opiliones). "Rev. Ibér. Aracnol." 6: 3-11. [http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/mndi/Aracnologia/aracnopdfs/A%20new%20family%20Icaleptidae.pdf PDF]
* (eds.) (2007): Harvestmen - The Biology of Opiliones. "Harvard University Press" ISBN 0-674-02343-9