Paranemastoma Redikorzew, 1936
Paranemastoma comprises a set of approximately 25 species mainly from Eastern Europe and the Western parts of Asia, with one species widespread in Central Europe. Many unassigned Nemastoma species have been transferred to the genus, but are presently considered nomina dubia and most will likely end in synonymy of the accepted species (Schönhofer 2013). The genus comprises the largest Nemastomatinae with body size up to 6 mm. Aside from large pointed spines in many species, they lack dorsal ornamentation but the basic black coloration is often supplemented with dorsal spots or complicated and rich patterns of gold and silver, making them stunningly beautiful. Male cheliceral apophyses are complex and exhibit a single excretion porus and the penis is bifurcate, both characters aid in species delineation. Closest relatives are Histricostoma and Carinostoma with similar apophyses and male genital morphology. Paranemastoma is in most cases easily discriminated by its much larger size. Males of Paranemastoma have no spines on the palps or on the penial glans.
Taxonomy and Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
At present, taxonomy and systematics of the genus represent a nightmare. The situation is comparable to that of Ischyropsalis before Martens (1969) revised this genus thoroughly. About 100 names can be associated with Paranemastoma probably assignable to about 25 species. This situation is caused by a wealth of descriptions by Roewer (e.g. 1951, >40 new species!) and Hadži (1973) based on variable external characters such as size, spination and color patterns which have been repeatedly shown to vary considerably within species and even populations. On the other hand, male genital and cheliceral morphology needs to be carefully evaluated to understand their value for systematics and taxonomy. This process has been started to define common Central European species (Martens 1978) and to outline cryptic diversity within the Caucasus and on the Balkan (Martens 2006, Mitov 2011). The presented list is a compilation from taxonomic literature but a comprehensive revision of the genus is needed.
Ecology and Life History
With exception of the euryoec Central European Paranemastoma quadripunctatum, most species prefer permanently wet microhabitats. They can be surprisingly abundant around springs and small upstream water courses that are not subject to flooding. Here they rest under logs and stones close to the water or even at the base of plants standing in water, sometimes forming small aggregations of dozens of animals. Caves are entered on a regular basis and two fully troglobiont species have been recorded (Mitov 2011).
References
Hadži, J. 1973. Novi taksoni suhih južin (Opilionidea) v Jugoslaviji [Neue Taxa der Weberknechte (Opilionidea) aus Jugoslawien]. Razprave Slovenska Akademija Znanosti in Umetnosti (SAZU),IV [Dissertationes Academia Scientiarum et Artium Slovenica, Classis 4], Ljubljana, 16 (1):1-120.
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. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 96 (2):133-264.
Martens, J. 1978. Spinnentiere, Arachnida - Weberknechte, Opiliones. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands, 64:1-464.
Martens, J. 2006. Weberknechte aus dem Kaukasus (Arachnida, Opiliones, Nemastomatidae), Senckenbergiana biologica 86 (2):145-210.
Mitov, P. G. 2011. A new anophthalmous species of Paranemastoma from Bulgaria (Opiliones: Nemastomatidae). The Journal of Arachnology 39: 303-319.
Roewer, C. F. 1951. Über Nemastomatiden. Weitere Weberknechte XVI. Senckenbergiana 32(1/4):95-153.
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. Angela DiDomenico helped improve the English.
Taxonomy and Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
At present, taxonomy and systematics of the genus represent a nightmare. The situation is comparable to that of Ischyropsalis before Martens (1969) revised this genus thoroughly. About 100 names can be associated with Paranemastoma probably assignable to about 25 species. This situation is caused by a wealth of descriptions by Roewer (e.g. 1951, >40 new species!) and Hadži (1973) based on variable external characters such as size, spination and color patterns which have been repeatedly shown to vary considerably within species and even populations. On the other hand, male genital and cheliceral morphology needs to be carefully evaluated to understand their value for systematics and taxonomy. This process has been started to define common Central European species (Martens 1978) and to outline cryptic diversity within the Caucasus and on the Balkan (Martens 2006, Mitov 2011). The presented list is a compilation from taxonomic literature but a comprehensive revision of the genus is needed.
Ecology and Life History
With exception of the euryoec Central European Paranemastoma quadripunctatum, most species prefer permanently wet microhabitats. They can be surprisingly abundant around springs and small upstream water courses that are not subject to flooding. Here they rest under logs and stones close to the water or even at the base of plants standing in water, sometimes forming small aggregations of dozens of animals. Caves are entered on a regular basis and two fully troglobiont species have been recorded (Mitov 2011).
References
Hadži, J. 1973. Novi taksoni suhih južin (Opilionidea) v Jugoslaviji [Neue Taxa der Weberknechte (Opilionidea) aus Jugoslawien]. Razprave Slovenska Akademija Znanosti in Umetnosti (SAZU),IV [Dissertationes Academia Scientiarum et Artium Slovenica, Classis 4], Ljubljana, 16 (1):1-120.
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. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 96 (2):133-264.
Martens, J. 1978. Spinnentiere, Arachnida - Weberknechte, Opiliones. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands, 64:1-464.
Martens, J. 2006. Weberknechte aus dem Kaukasus (Arachnida, Opiliones, Nemastomatidae), Senckenbergiana biologica 86 (2):145-210.
Mitov, P. G. 2011. A new anophthalmous species of Paranemastoma from Bulgaria (Opiliones: Nemastomatidae). The Journal of Arachnology 39: 303-319.
Roewer, C. F. 1951. Über Nemastomatiden. Weitere Weberknechte XVI. Senckenbergiana 32(1/4):95-153.
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. Angela DiDomenico helped improve the English.
