Ischyropsalididae Simon, 1879
The taxonomic concept of the previously monotypic Ischyropsalididae has been changed to include the monotypic Ischyropsalidinae and the newly defined Ceratolasmatinae, including only Acuclavella and Ceratolasma, with all previously included genera moved to other families (Schönhofer 2013). This concept seems to agree best with the obvious relationship of all three genera and molecular results (Shear 1986, Richart and Hedin 2013). Animals are relatively large and mostly blackish in color and exhibit a penial glans composed of two isolated sclerotised plates only joined at the long stylus and with a distinct composition of the sternal region (Schönhofer 2013).
Ecology and Life History
Ischyropsalis and Acuclavella favor cold habitats in combination with high humidity. Many Ischyropsalis are restricted to higher altitudes or enter caves, and a high percentage of troglobionts is present, and Acuclavella is restricted close to running water (Richart and Hedin 2013). Ischyropsalis hellwigii is specialized in feeding on snails whose shells are opened with the massive chelicerae. Other species do not show this preference but prey on a variety of arthropods (Martens 1975). Ceratolasma tends to inhabit different forest communities, but preference is to moist microhabitats as well.
References
Martens, J. 1969. Die Abgrenzung von Biospezies auf biologisch-ethologischer und morphologischer Grundlage am Beispiel der Gattung Ischyropsalis C. L. Koch 1839 (Opiliones, Ischyropsalididae). Zoologische Jahrbücher Systematik 96(2):133-264.
Martens, J. 1970. Die Biospezies bei Weberknechten am Beispiel der Gattung Ischyropsalis C. L. Koch (Opiliones, Ischyropsalidae). Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire naturelle, 2e Série 41(1):166-170.
Martens, J. 1975. Ischyropsalis hellwigi - Nahrungsaufnahme. Film der Encyclopaedia Cinematographica, mit Beiheft: E 2129, Göttingen.
Martens, J. 1978. Spinnentiere, Arachnida - Weberknechte, Opiliones. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 64:1-464.
Richart, C. H., Hedin, M. 2013. Three new species in the harvestmen genus Acuclavella (Opiliones, Dyspnoi, Ischyropsalidoidea), including description of male Acuclavella quattuor Shear, 1986. ZooKeys, 311: 19–68.
Schönhofer, A.L. 2013. A taxonomic catalogue of the Dyspnoi Hansen and Sørensen, 1904 (Arachnida: Opiliones). Zootaxa 3679 (1): 1-68.
Credits
Page created by Axel L. Schönhofer.
Ecology and Life History
Ischyropsalis and Acuclavella favor cold habitats in combination with high humidity. Many Ischyropsalis are restricted to higher altitudes or enter caves, and a high percentage of troglobionts is present, and Acuclavella is restricted close to running water (Richart and Hedin 2013). Ischyropsalis hellwigii is specialized in feeding on snails whose shells are opened with the massive chelicerae. Other species do not show this preference but prey on a variety of arthropods (Martens 1975). Ceratolasma tends to inhabit different forest communities, but preference is to moist microhabitats as well.
References
Martens, J. 1969. Die Abgrenzung von Biospezies auf biologisch-ethologischer und morphologischer Grundlage am Beispiel der Gattung Ischyropsalis C. L. Koch 1839 (Opiliones, Ischyropsalididae). Zoologische Jahrbücher Systematik 96(2):133-264.
Martens, J. 1970. Die Biospezies bei Weberknechten am Beispiel der Gattung Ischyropsalis C. L. Koch (Opiliones, Ischyropsalidae). Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire naturelle, 2e Série 41(1):166-170.
Martens, J. 1975. Ischyropsalis hellwigi - Nahrungsaufnahme. Film der Encyclopaedia Cinematographica, mit Beiheft: E 2129, Göttingen.
Martens, J. 1978. Spinnentiere, Arachnida - Weberknechte, Opiliones. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 64:1-464.
Richart, C. H., Hedin, M. 2013. Three new species in the harvestmen genus Acuclavella (Opiliones, Dyspnoi, Ischyropsalidoidea), including description of male Acuclavella quattuor Shear, 1986. ZooKeys, 311: 19–68.
Schönhofer, A.L. 2013. A taxonomic catalogue of the Dyspnoi Hansen and Sørensen, 1904 (Arachnida: Opiliones). Zootaxa 3679 (1): 1-68.
Credits
Page created by Axel L. Schönhofer.
