Travunioidea

Travunioidea

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Travunioidea: /trɑvʊˈni.oɪd.eɪə/

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

Images

Sclerobunus nondimorphicus morphology by Shahan Derkarabetian and Marshal Hedin. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Sclerobunus idahoensis Briggs, 1971 (SDSU TAC000005) by wikipedia. Used under a CC0 license.
Paranonychus brunneus 05 by Shahan Derkarabetian, James Starrett, Nobuo Tsurusaki, Darrell Ubick, Stephanie Castillo, Marshal Hedin. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Laniatores (10.3897-zookeys.760.24937) Figure 1 by All photos by MH, except D, E (courtesy of and copyright A. Schönhofer), and F (courtesy of and copyright I. Karaman) Derkarabetian S, Starrett J, Tsurusaki N, Ubick D, Castillo S, Hedin M (2018) A stable phylogenomic classification of Travunioidea (Arachnida, Opiliones, Laniatores) based on sequence capture of ultraconserved elements. ZooKeys 760: 1-36. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.760.24937. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Phalangodes robusta Cavefaunaofnorthamerica by Alpheus Spring Packard. Used under a Public domain license.
Laniatores (10.3897-zookeys.760.24937) Figure 1 by All photos by MH, except D, E (courtesy of and copyright A. Schönhofer), and F (courtesy of and copyright I. Karaman) Derkarabetian S, Starrett J, Tsurusaki N, Ubick D, Castillo S, Hedin M (2018) A stable phylogenomic classification of Travunioidea (Arachnida, Opiliones, Laniatores) based on sequence capture of ultraconserved elements. ZooKeys 760: 1-36. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.760.24937. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Travunioidea is a superfamily of armoured harvestmen within the order Opiliones, characterized by their unique morphology and ecological roles.

Physical Characteristics

Armoured body structure characteristic of harvestmen.

Identification Tips

Typically identified by their armored appearance and unique morphological traits depending on the specific family.

Habitat

Primarily found in terrestrial environments, often in leaf litter or under stones.

Distribution

Approximately 75 described species; distribution largely depends on the family, with some species found in specific regions.

Diet

Feeds on small invertebrates and detritus, typical of most harvestmen.

Life Cycle

Complex life cycle encompassing eggs, juvenile stages, and adults; specifics may vary among families.

Reproduction

Reproductive habits include external fertilization, with males typically engaging in courtship displays.

Predators

Natural predators include birds, amphibians, and other arachnids.

Ecosystem Role

Integral role in the decomposition process, contributing to nutrient cycling.

Collecting Methods

  • Hand collection
  • Pitfall traps
  • Leaf litter sampling

Preservation Methods

  • Ethanol preservation
  • Drying methods
  • Pinning for morphological studies

Evolution

Part of the evolutionary lineage leading to modern arachnids, distinct from other arachnid orders.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Often confused with spiders, though they are distinct in ecological roles and anatomy.

Tags

  • arachnology
  • harvestmen
  • travunioidea
  • opiliones
  • biodiversity