Mapping the distribution of armored harvestmen (Opiliones, Laniatores) in Colombia: updated list of species, taxonomic contributions, and insight of diversity in protected areas

By

Villarreal Manzanilla, Osvaldo
Ahumada, Daniela
Delgado-Santa, Leonardo

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1175

Pages

223--284

Subjects

Checklist , Ecoregions , harvestmen , Neotropics , protected natural areas

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1175.102485

 

Abstract

Colombia is a biodiverse country with 1,486 protected areas covering almost 50 million hectares, yet little is known about the biodiversity they harbor, particularly in terms of harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). This study provides a comprehensive updated summary of the armored harvestmen (Laniatores) species found in Colombia with a list of 173 nominal species, focusing on the Laniatores fauna found in protected areas and its diversity is detailed and analyzed. Maps with all records associated with ecoregions and protected areas in Colombia are presented. Additionally, three new Laniatores species are described here:Phalangodus andresisp. nov.from the department of Cundinamarca, andVentrifurca phallainasp. nov.andAmpycella fortunatasp. nov.from the department of Valle del Cauca; and a new family assignment is proposed forParaphalangodusRoewer, 1915, placing it in the family Nomoclastidae. Information available on Laniatores in the National System of Protected Areas is still scarce and promoting strategies to facilitate the regulatory procedures for collecting specimens in these areas and increasing investment in basic science projects, are suggested to improve the understanding and study of the Laniatores fauna and other invertebrates in Colombia. Finally, a chronicle and timeline set of figures of species of Laniatores from Colombia, described by various authors during three periods, is given.