Nelima

Roewer, 1910

Species Guides

Nelima elegans
Nelima paessleri(Aggregating Harvestman)

Nelima is a of harvestmen (Opiliones) in the Sclerosomatidae, established by Roewer in 1910. The genus contains 37 as of 2025, distributed across Europe and Asia. Some species occupy specialized : Nelima gothica is abundant in coastal sand dunes, Nelima silvatica occurs in woodland habitats, and Nelima aurantiaca has been recorded in cave . The genus exhibits diverse ecological preferences from coastal dunes to forests and subterranean environments.

Nelima paessleri by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.

Nelima by (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nelima: //nɛˈliːma//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Nelima can be distinguished from the similar Leiobunum by genital ; male genitalia show species-specific differences useful for identification. External characters require comparison with related genera in the Leiobuninae . Species-level identification typically requires examination of male genital structures.

Images

Habitat

varies by : Nelima gothica occupies coastal sand dunes, particularly dense Ammophila arenaria vegetation without active sand shifting; Nelima silvatica inhabits woodland and forested areas; Nelima aurantiaca has been documented in cave . Some species show patchy distribution with high local abundance but absence from nearby suitable sites.

Distribution

Europe and Asia. Documented from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, France (Haute-Savoie), and Japan (Hokkaido). Nelima gothica shows potential distribution along western Danish coastal dunes, Wadden Sea area, and eastern Danish coasts. Nelima silvatica is recorded as the harvestman on Skokholm Island, Great Britain.

Seasonality

Nelima gothica exhibits an life-cycle with development in late spring and summer, autumn , and -stage hibernation. This follows the typical pattern of North-European Phalangiidae and Leiobuninae.

Life Cycle

Nelima gothica has an life-cycle: juveniles develop through late spring and summer, occurs in autumn, and hibernation occurs in the stage. General life-cycle patterns for other Nelima are not documented.

Similar Taxa

LeiobunumBoth belong to the Leiobuninae and share general body form; distinguished by male genital and external characters.
OdiellusHistorical taxonomic confusion: Nelima melanodorsum was synonymized with Odiellus aspersus, indicating superficial similarity in external appearance.

More Details

Taxonomic history

The has undergone significant taxonomic revision. Several originally described as Nelima have been synonymized with other genera: Nelima humilis with Gyas annulatus, Nelima melanodorsum with Odiellus aspersus, and Nelima fuscifrons with Leiobunum blackwalli. Nelima insignita and Nelima margaritata are junior synonyms of Nelima nigricoxa albiangulata.

Research gaps

Most ecological and biological information derives from studies of single (particularly N. gothica and N. silvatica). -wide patterns for diet, , and function remain undocumented.