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Cosmetidae | |
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Poecilaemula smaragdula Mello-Leitão, 1941, from Brazil. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Opiliones |
Suborder: | Laniatores |
Infraorder: | Grassatores |
Superfamily: | Gonyleptoidea |
Family: | Cosmetidae C.L. Koch, 1839 |
Subfamilies | |
Cosmetidae is a family of harvestmen in the suborder Laniatores. With over 700 species, it is one of the largest families in Opiliones. They are endemic of the New World with a Nearctic-Neotropical distribution where a large fraction of the diversity of Opiliones are represented by this single family. Cosmetidae have the northern extent of their range into the USA, where a small number species occur in the southern states. However, the family is especially diverse in Mexico, Central America and northern South America; especially the Andean realms. Their range also extends further south into Argentina and southern Brazil, but they are absent in Chile. Cosmetidae are prevalent in Amazonian region, but only relatively few also occur in Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Several species are also found in the Caribbean.
This family comprises members that may have elaborate white or yellow (but rarely also green/orange/red) markings such as stripes and spots on the dorsal body and peculiar pedipalps strongly compressed and applied on the chelicerae. Some aspects of diagnosis are as follows
See more details in Kury & Pinto-da-Rocha (2007).
The family name is derived from the type genus Cosmetus , which is from the Greek kosmetós 'ornate'.
As of 2006, there are 125 genera and 712 species described. Most species belong to Cynorta (153 spp), Paecilaema (102 spp), Flirtea and Erginulus (30 spp each). However, there is no reason to believe most of genera of cosmetids are natural groups, except for a few like Metavononoides , Cosmetus (Kury, 2003) and Roquettea (Ferreira & Kury 2010). Attempts to organize the family in supra-specific units are hindered by the poorly resolved basic taxonomy.
The family was divided into two subfamilies for many years as: Cosmetinae and Discosomaticinae. [1]
Cosmetidae is the sister-group of Gonyleptidae and both are closely related to the Stygnidae and Cranaidae (Kury, 1992).
The family was subsequently divided into seven subfamilies as:
Cosmetinae Koch, 1839
Cynortinae Mello-Leitão, 1933
Discosomaticinae Roewer, 1923
Ferkeriinae Medrano, Kury & Mendes, 2021
Flirteinae Medrano, Kury & Mendes, 2021
Libitiinae Medrano, Kury & Mendes, 2021
Metergininae Medrano, Kury & Mendes, 2021
Taitoinae Medrano, Kury & Mendes, 2021
Below is a scheme of genera now placed into revised subfamilies:
The Opiliones are an order of arachnids colloquially known as harvestmen, harvesters, harvest spiders, or daddy longlegs. As of April 2017, over 6,650 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide, although the total number of extant species may exceed 10,000. The order Opiliones includes five suborders: Cyphophthalmi, Eupnoi, Dyspnoi, Laniatores, and Tetrophthalmi, which were named in 2014.
Gonyleptidae is a neotropical family of harvestmen with more than 800 species, the largest in the suborder Laniatores and the second largest of the Opiliones as a whole. The largest known harvestmen are gonyleptids.
The Stygnidae are a family of neotropical harvestmen within the suborder Laniatores.
Agoristenidae are a neotropical harvestman family of the Suborder Laniatores, in the superfamily Gonyleptoidea.
The Cranaidae are a family of neotropical harvestmen within the suborder Laniatores.
The Icaleptidae are a small family of neotropical harvestmen within the suborder Laniatores. Although only two species have been described, many more are probably to be discovered.
The Zalmoxidae are a family of harvestmen within the suborder Laniatores.
The Cladonychiidae are a small family of harvestman with about 33 described species, within the suborder Laniatores.
Vonones sayi is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Cosmetidae. It is found in North America.
Vonones is a genus of armoured harvestmen in the family Cosmetidae. There are at least two described species in Vonones.
Cryptomastridae is a family of armoured harvestmen in the order Opiliones. There are two genera and four described species in Cryptomastridae, found in Oregon and Idaho.
Cynorta is a genus from the subfamily Cynortinae. The genus was first described by Carl Ludwig Koch.
Rhaucus is a genus of harvestmen in the family Cosmetidae. The genus is endemic to the Colombian northern Andes. There are currently seven described species in the genus.
Poecilaemula eutypa is a species of harvestmen from Central America in the family Cosmetidae. It was first described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1925.
Discosomaticinae is a subfamily of harvestmen in the family Cosmetidae.
Metergininae is a subfamily of harvestmen in the family Cosmetidae.
Poecilaemula is a genus of harvestmen in the family Cosmetidae with eight described species. All species are from Central America or South America. An overview of the taxonomy was provided by Medrano et al. (2024)
Poecilaemula iching is a species of harvestmen from Central America in the family Cosmetidae. It was first described by Medrano, Kury, Martins & Proud, 2024 in 2024.
Poecilaemula signata is a species of harvestmen from Central America in the family Cosmetidae. It was first described by Banks in 1909.
Abria is a genus of harvestmen in the family Cosmetidae with three described species. All species are from Venezuela. An overview of the taxonomy was provided by Villarreal, Medrano & Kury (2023)