Biantidae

Taxobox


image_caption =
image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Opiliones
subordo = Laniatores
infraordo = Grassatores
superfamilia = Samooidea
familia = Biantidae
familia_authority = Thorell, 1889
diversity_link = List of Biantidae species
diversity = c. 30 genera, c. 130 species
range_

range_map_width = 250px
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = See text for list.

Biantidae is a family of the harvestman infraorder Grassatores with about 130 described species.aut|Kury, Adriano B. & Pérez Gonzales, Abel (2007): Biantidae Thorell, 1889. In: Pinto-da-Rocha "et al." 2007: 176ff]

Description

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.

Distribution

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.

Relationships

Biantidae are included in the superfamily Samooidea, which mainly radiated in South America.

Name

The type genus is named after Biantes, the son of Parthenopaeus, one of the Epigoni who marched against Thebes in Greek mythology.

Genera

For a list of all described species, see the List of Biantidae species.

Biantinae

* "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

* "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)

tenostyginae

* "Bidoma" Silhavy, 1973 — Haiti (1 species)
* "Caribbiantes" Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (1 species)
* "Decuella" Avram, 1977 — Cuba (1 species)
* "Galibrotus" Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (3 species)
* "Manahunca" Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (3 species)
* "Martibianta" Silhavy, 1973 — Virgin Islands (1 species)
* "Negreaella" Avram, 1977 — Cuba (5 species)
* "Stenostygnus" Simon, 1879 — northern South America (1 species)
* "Vestitecola" Silhavy, 1973 — Haiti (1 species)

Zairebiantinae

* "Zairebiantes" H. Kauri, 1985 — Zaire (1 species)

Footnotes

References

*'s Biology Catalog: [http://insects.tamu.edu/research/collection/hallan/Acari/Family/Biantidae.txt Biantidae]
* (eds.) (2007): Harvestmen - The Biology of Opiliones. "Harvard University Press" ISBN 0-674-02343-9