Neogoveidae

Shear, 1980

Neogoveid Harvestmen

Genus Guides

Metasiro

Neogoveidae is a of small, eyeless harvestmen (Cyphophthalmi) distributed across tropical regions of West Africa and the Neotropics. Members range from 1 to 4.5 mm in body length and exhibit distinctive morphological features including a heavily granulated , laterally projecting ozophores, and variable adenostyle . The family shows substantial undescribed diversity, with many awaiting formal description.

Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi, Neogoveidae, Metasiro sassafrasensis, immature by Marshal Hedin. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Neogoveidae: /niːəʊˈgoʊvɪˌdeɪ/

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Identification

Neogoveidae can be distinguished from other Cyphophthalmi by the combination of: laterally projecting ozophores (not anteriorly directed as in some other families); presence of a solea on I in most ; 2 and 3; and fused sternites 8 and 9 with tergite 9 forming a complete corona analis (except Metasiro). The genus Canga is unique in having a dentate claw on leg I and free coxa II. Metasiro (North America) differs from all other neogoveids in lacking the complete corona analis and having pores on the anal plate rather than sternum.

Images

Habitat

Tropical forest environments; recorded from cave systems (Canga renatae from Serra de Carajás caves, Brazil); likely associated with moist leaf litter and soil given small size and eyeless condition typical of soil-dwelling Cyphophthalmi. One (Metasiro) occurs in southeastern USA in mesic forest habitats.

Distribution

Tropical trans-Atlantic distribution: equatorial West Africa (Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone) and the Neotropics (northern South America: Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago), plus southeastern USA (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina) via Metasiro. Absent from Central America. Greatest documented diversity in Colombia, though this may reflect sampling effort.

Behavior

A phylogeographical study of Metasiro suggests potential for via moving bodies of water, as occur at endpoints of large watersheds.

Human Relevance

Subject of systematic research due to high undescribed diversity and biogeographic significance; some described from cave systems of conservation interest.

Similar Taxa

OgoveidaeSister within superfamily Ogoveoidea; West African distribution; differs in morphological details of genitalia and somatic structures
TroglosironidaeSister group to Ogoveoidea within infraorder Sternophthalmi; restricted to New Caledonia; differs in geographic distribution and morphological characters
SironidaeAnother of Cyphophthalmi; differs in ozophore position (anteriorly directed in Sironidae vs. lateral in Neogoveidae) and other somatic characters

More Details

Taxonomic instability

The has undergone recent systematic revision with description of three new (Leggogovia, Microgovia, Waiwaigovia) and multiple new . The position of Metasiro has been debated, with proposals to exclude it from Neogoveidae. The species 'Shearogovea mexasca' was removed from Neogoveidae and its position remains uncertain.

Undescribed diversity

Substantial cryptic diversity exists: 37 undescribed species were reported from South America alone, including 8 Huitaca, 12 Neogovea, and 17 Metagovea . New species have been found at virtually every sampled locality in the Neotropics.

Phylogenetic relationships

Molecular supports: ((Leggogovia, Metasiro), (Parogovia, ((Canga, Microgovia), ((Brasiliogovea, Neogovea), (Huitaca, (Waiwaigovia, Metagovea)))))). South American are with respect to the North American Metasiro.