Mitostoma Roewer, 1951
Mitostoma is a distinct genus within Nematomatidae, with a small body and often extremely elongated, thread-like legs. The body is ornamented with crests of bridge-thorns and species coloration ranges from almost grayish-black to very colorful forms, adding silver and golden spots, with red, yellow and bluish elements. Aside from external characteristics, Mitostoma differs from all other Nemastomatidae by its distinct male genital morphology. The penis is short and stout, and the glands and stylus exhibit a very complex, three-dimensional system of sclerotized areas of varying thickness, whose functionality is still unknown (Martens 2008).
Distribution is clearly West-Palearctic with most species described from Italy and the Balkan Peninsula. A few species inhabit the Alps and one the Western Pyrenees. To the East, Mitostoma reaches the Caucasus. Mitostoma chrysomelas exhibits a wide distribution in Central Europe.
Taxonomy and Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
The three-dimensional glans penis is very different from the usual bilateral setting of Nemastomatinae, and phylogenetic analyses support Mitostoma in an isolated position within the Family (Schönhofer and Martens 2010). Systematic concepts are still poorly developed. Tedeschi & Sciaky (1997) revised the Italian Mitostoma and proposed several sister relationships between these species. A large number of species have been transferred to other genera and some Roewerian species probably need to be synonymized, resulting currently in 17 accepted species. External morphology seems to be quite useful to delineate species, while the complex genital morphology is difficult to interpret and restrains extensive investigations or using it for species identification. The number of cryptic species might be significantly higher due to these circumstances; furthermore, several species on the Balkan Peninsula remain to be described.
Ecology and Life History
Habitats are mostly associated with stones and stony gravel and frequently with caves. A well structured ground layer seems necessary for the delicate Mitostoma to be present. In the southern distribution area, species are rare and represent small-scaled endemics, often confined to cave systems but not necessarily adapted to this environment. Two troglobiont Mitostoma are known from Bergamo and Sardinia, assignable to the genus upon only the complex male genital.
References
Martens, J. 2008. Weberknechte aus dem Kaukasus (Arachnida, Opiliones, Nemastomatidae), Senckenbergiana biologica 86 (2):145-210.
Schönhofer, A. L. and J. Martens. 2010. Hidden Mediterranean diversity: Assessing species taxa by molecular phylogeny within the opilionid family Trogulidae (Arachnida, Opiliones). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 54 (1):59-75.
Tedeschi, M. and R. Sciaky. 1997. Towards a revision of the Italian Mitostoma. 1. Subdivision in groups and description of new species (Arachnida, Opiliones, Nemastomatidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 104(3):503-616.
Credits
Page created by Axel L. Schönhofer. Angela DiDomenico helped improve the English.
Distribution is clearly West-Palearctic with most species described from Italy and the Balkan Peninsula. A few species inhabit the Alps and one the Western Pyrenees. To the East, Mitostoma reaches the Caucasus. Mitostoma chrysomelas exhibits a wide distribution in Central Europe.
Taxonomy and Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
The three-dimensional glans penis is very different from the usual bilateral setting of Nemastomatinae, and phylogenetic analyses support Mitostoma in an isolated position within the Family (Schönhofer and Martens 2010). Systematic concepts are still poorly developed. Tedeschi & Sciaky (1997) revised the Italian Mitostoma and proposed several sister relationships between these species. A large number of species have been transferred to other genera and some Roewerian species probably need to be synonymized, resulting currently in 17 accepted species. External morphology seems to be quite useful to delineate species, while the complex genital morphology is difficult to interpret and restrains extensive investigations or using it for species identification. The number of cryptic species might be significantly higher due to these circumstances; furthermore, several species on the Balkan Peninsula remain to be described.
Ecology and Life History
Habitats are mostly associated with stones and stony gravel and frequently with caves. A well structured ground layer seems necessary for the delicate Mitostoma to be present. In the southern distribution area, species are rare and represent small-scaled endemics, often confined to cave systems but not necessarily adapted to this environment. Two troglobiont Mitostoma are known from Bergamo and Sardinia, assignable to the genus upon only the complex male genital.
References
Martens, J. 2008. Weberknechte aus dem Kaukasus (Arachnida, Opiliones, Nemastomatidae), Senckenbergiana biologica 86 (2):145-210.
Schönhofer, A. L. and J. Martens. 2010. Hidden Mediterranean diversity: Assessing species taxa by molecular phylogeny within the opilionid family Trogulidae (Arachnida, Opiliones). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 54 (1):59-75.
Tedeschi, M. and R. Sciaky. 1997. Towards a revision of the Italian Mitostoma. 1. Subdivision in groups and description of new species (Arachnida, Opiliones, Nemastomatidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 104(3):503-616.
Credits
Page created by Axel L. Schönhofer. Angela DiDomenico helped improve the English.
