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Dicranolasmatidae Simon 1879

Dicranolasma Soerensen 1873

Axel Schönhofer
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The tree is derived from interrelationships proposed by Gruber (1998) based on morphology.

Containing group: Troguloidea

Introduction

The monotypic Dicranolasmatidae comprise currently 16 species in the Western Palearctic with center of distribution in Italy, the Balkan Peninsula and to the Caucasus and Iran in the East. They are unmistakable given their bifurcate head cap covering the chelicerae with the eyes situated in the middle of the individual branches. Body form is globular in contrast to the similar but predominantly flat Trogulidae and the number of tarsal segments are increased in comparison. They exhibit advanced soil crypsis, gluing large amounts of soil to their integument and fixed by elongated papillae, that accumulates to sometimes half the body height.

Taxonomy and Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

Dicranolasma is monophyletic and close sister to Trogulidae in all studies (e.g. Giribet et al. 2010; Schönhofer and Martens 2010) but seems to have an intermediate position between Trogulidae and Nemastomatidae, which is also apparent in the transient morphology (e.g. body form, head cap, soil crypsis, clavate hairs on palps, high count of tarsal segments). Genital morphological differences to Trogulidae are minor when compared to the diversity within the Nemastomatidae. Species delineation and relationships within the genus have been studied by Gruber (1974, 1998). In the widespread Dicranolasma soerenseni and D. opilionoides further cryptic species are to be expected, as is likely true for the still underexplored Asian distribution of the genus.

Ecology and Life History

Dicranolasma inhabits humid well structured soil habitats, often in combination with calcareous bedrock that is sheltered by forest. Adults can be found year-round. Many species enter caves frequently, yet cave adaption seems absent. Prey specialization on snails in Dicranolasma scabrum has been reported and is likely the case throughout the genus.

Other Names for Dicranolasma Soerensen 1873

References

Giribet, G., Vogt, L., Pérez-González, A., Sharma, P. and A. B. Kury. 2010. A multilocus approach to harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones) phylogeny with emphasis on biogeography and the systematics of Laniatores. Cladistics 26:408-437.

Gruber, J. 1974. Ein Beitrag zur Systematik, Morphologie und Bionomie der Gattung Dicranolasma SØRENSEN (Arachnida: Opiliones). Dissertation philosophische Fakultät, Wien (unpublished).

Gruber, J. 1998. Beiträge zur Systematik der Gattung Dicranolasma (Arachnida: Opiliones, Dicranolasmatidae). I. Dicranolasma thracium STAREGA und verwandte Formen aus Südosteuropa und Südwestasien. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 100B:489-537.

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.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Dicranolasma pauper
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Identified By Axel Schoenhofer
Life Cycle Stage adult
Copyright © 2011 Axel Schönhofer
Scientific Name Dicranolasma pauper
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Identified By Axel Schoenhofer
Life Cycle Stage adult
Copyright © 2011 Axel Schönhofer
Scientific Name Dicranolasma pauper
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Identified By Axel Schoenhofer
Life Cycle Stage adult
Copyright © 2011 Axel Schönhofer
About This Page
Many thanks to Angela DiDomenico for the final English check.

Axel Schönhofer
San Diego States University, San Diego, California, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Axel Schönhofer at

Page: Tree of Life Dicranolasmatidae Simon 1879. Dicranolasma Soerensen 1873. Authored by Axel Schönhofer . The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Schönhofer , Axel. 2012. Dicranolasmatidae Simon 1879. Dicranolasma Soerensen 1873. Version 08 July 2012 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Dicranolasma/145995/2012.07.08 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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