Ischyropsalidoidea
Simon, 1879
Family Guides
4- Ceratolasmatidae
- Ischyropsalididae(Ischyropsalidid Harvestmen)
- Sabaconidae(sabaconid harvestmen)
- Taracidae(Taracid Harvestmen)
Ischyropsalidoidea is a superfamily of harvestmen (Opiliones) comprising three extant —Ischyropsalididae, Sabaconidae, and Taracidae—plus one extinct of uncertain placement. The group contains nine genera total (one extinct), distributed across Europe and western North America. Member have been subject to recent taxonomic revision, particularly the North American genus Taracus, which was elevated to family status in 2013.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ischyropsalidoidea: /ˌɪskiroʊpˌsælɪˈdɔɪdiə/
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Identification
Distinguished from other Dyspnoi superfamilies by genitalic and cheliceral . Taracidae members possess distinctive ocular structure and tarsal armature patterns that separate them from Ischyropsalididae and Sabaconidae. The extinct †Piankhi is known only from Eocene Baltic amber and cannot be identified by external characters alone.
Images
Habitat
Western North American taracids inhabit forested montane regions from Vancouver Island south to California, and east to the Rocky Mountains. European ischyropsalidids occupy comparable temperate forest . Specific microhabitat preferences are poorly documented but specimens have been collected from moist woodland litter and under stones.
Distribution
Europe and western North America. In North America, documented from Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and US states of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico. European distribution encompasses western and central temperate regions.
Human Relevance
No direct economic or medical significance. Subject of taxonomic research due to complex boundaries and cryptic diversity in western North American taracids.
Similar Taxa
- TroguloideaAlso within Dyspnoi; distinguished by different genitalic and tarsal segmentation patterns
- NemastomatoideaOther major Dyspnoi superfamily; differs in body proportions and ocular structure
More Details
Taxonomic history
The Taracidae was established by Schönhofer in 2013 to accommodate Taracus, Hesperonemastoma, and Crosbycus, previously placed in Ischyropsalididae. This reclassification has been adopted in subsequent treatments including Shear & Warfel (2016). The extinct †Piankhi Shear, 1986 from Baltic amber remains of uncertain phylogenetic affinity within the superfamily.
Research significance
The 2016 revision of Taracus described eight new and established the Oskoron, demonstrating substantial undescribed diversity in western North American harvestmen. New locality records extended the known range by over 1,000 km in some directions.