Laniatores
Guides
Banksula
Banksula is a genus of harvestmen in the family Phalangodidae, comprising ten described species. All species are endemic to California, United States. The genus was established by Roewer in 1949 and named in honor of Nathan Banks, an American entomologist who described the type species. These harvestmen belong to the suborder Laniatores, a diverse group of short-legged, often heavily armored opilionids.
Bishopella
Bishopella is a genus of harvestmen (Opiliones) in the family Phalangodidae, established by Roewer in 1927 and named in honor of arachnologist S. C. Bishop. The genus contains two described species: B. jonesi, endemic to Alabama, and B. laciniosa, distributed more broadly across the southeastern United States. Both species belong to the diverse Laniatores suborder, characterized by relatively short legs and raptorial pedipalps adapted for predation.
Bishopella laciniosa
Bishop's harvestman
Bishopella laciniosa, commonly known as Bishop's harvestman, is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Phalangodidae. It is native to North America. As a member of the Laniatores suborder, it possesses relatively short legs compared to other harvestmen and exhibits the characteristic body plan of armoured harvestmen with a well-sclerotized exoskeleton.
Buemarinoidae
Buemarinoid Harvestmen
Buemarinoidae is a small family of harvestmen (Opiliones: Laniatores) comprising approximately six genera and six described species. The family belongs to the superfamily Triaenonychoidea, which contains over 440 species across four families. Buemarinoidae is considered an ancient, relictual lineage with a disjunct global distribution and a high prevalence of monotypic genera, suggesting significant historical extinction events.
Calicina
Calicina is a genus of armored harvestmen (Opiliones) in the family Phalangodidae, established by Ubick & Briggs in 1989. The genus contains more than 20 described species. Members of this genus are characterized by their heavily sclerotized body armor, a defining feature of the family Phalangodidae. These harvestmen are part of the suborder Laniatores, which includes the majority of the world's harvestman diversity.
Chinquipellobunus
Chinquipellobunus is a genus of harvestmen (Opiliones) in the family Stygnopsidae, subfamily Stygnopsinae. The genus was established by Goodnight & Goodnight in 1944. Members of this genus are classified within the infraorder Grassatores, a diverse group of tropical and subtropical harvestmen characterized by relatively short legs and compact bodies.
Cosmetidae
Pied Harvestmen
Cosmetidae is one of the largest families of harvestmen (Opiliones), comprising over 700 species across 125+ genera. The family is endemic to the New World with a Nearctic-Neotropical distribution, reaching its greatest diversity in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, particularly the Andean regions. The northern range extends into the southern United States. The family name derives from the Greek 'kosmetós' meaning 'ornate,' referring to the elaborate white, yellow, or occasionally green, orange, or red markings on the dorsal body. The family has undergone substantial taxonomic revision, with seven subfamilies currently recognized following phylogenetic analyses.
Crosbyella roeweri
Crosbyella roeweri is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Phalangodidae, described by Goodnight & Goodnight in 1942. It belongs to the suborder Laniatores, a group of short-legged, heavily sclerotized harvestmen commonly found in soil and leaf litter habitats. The species is recorded from North America, though specific locality details remain limited.
Crosbyella spinturnix
Crosbyella spinturnix is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Phalangodidae, described by Crosby and Bishop in 1924. Originally placed in the genus Phalangodes, it was later transferred to Crosbyella. As a member of the suborder Laniatores, it possesses hardened body armour characteristic of this group. The species is documented from North America, though detailed ecological and behavioral studies appear limited.
Crosbyella tuberculata
Crosbyella tuberculata is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Phalangodidae, described by Goodnight & Goodnight in 1942. It belongs to the suborder Laniatores, a diverse group of harvestmen characterized by relatively short legs and often heavily armoured bodies. The species is known from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in the available literature.
Cryptomaster
daddy longlegs
Cryptomaster is a genus of armoured harvestmen (Opiliones) in the family Cryptomastridae, established in 1969 and containing two described species: C. leviathan and C. behemoth. Both species are endemic to the mountains of southwest Oregon and represent short-range endemic arachnids. The genus remained understudied for decades until 2016, when expanded distributional records of C. leviathan prompted discovery of the second species. These harvestmen belong to the suborder Laniatores, characterized by relatively short legs and cryptic habits in forest floor habitats.
Cryptomaster leviathan
Leviathan harvestman
Cryptomaster leviathan is a harvestman (opilionid arachnid) from southeastern Oregon, described in 1969. It is notable for its relatively large body size compared to other travunioid Laniatores, which inspired its name referencing the biblical Leviathan. The species was the sole member of its genus until the 2016 discovery of its congener C. behemoth. Populations show surprisingly low genetic divergence across an expanded range spanning multiple mountain ranges.
Enigmina
Enigmina is a genus of armored harvestmen in the family Phalangodidae, established by Ubick & Briggs in 2008. The genus contains at least two described species: Enigmina granita and Enigmina warrenorum. Members of this genus belong to the suborder Laniatores, a diverse group of short-legged harvestmen characterized by robust bodies and often elaborate defensive armor. The genus name reflects the enigmatic nature of these cryptic arachnids, which are poorly known in terms of their biology and ecology.
Enigmina warrenorum
Enigmina warrenorum is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Phalangodidae, described in 2008. It belongs to the suborder Laniatores, a group of harvestmen characterized by relatively short legs and often heavily sclerotized bodies. The species is known from very few observations, with only three records documented on iNaturalist. Its specific epithet honors the Warren family.
Erebomaster
armoured harvestmen
Erebomaster is a genus of armoured harvestmen established by Cope in 1872. The genus contains at least three described species and is classified in the family Cladonychiidae (formerly placed in Travuniidae). These harvestmen are part of the suborder Laniatores, a diverse group of long-legged arachnids commonly found in moist forest habitats. The genus has accumulated over 200 observations on iNaturalist, indicating moderate documentation of its occurrence.
Erebomaster acanthinus
armoured harvestman
Erebomaster acanthinus is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Cladonychiidae (sometimes listed as Travuniidae in older sources). It belongs to the suborder Laniatores, a group of harvestmen characterized by relatively short legs and often elaborate body armature. The species was described by Crosby and Bishop in 1924. It is known from scattered records in the eastern United States.
Megacina cockerelli
armoured harvestman
Megacina cockerelli is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Phalangodidae. It was originally described as Sitalcina cockerelli by Goodnight & Goodnight in 1942. The species belongs to a group of harvestmen characterized by hardened body armor and is found in North America.
Metanonychus
Metanonychus is a genus of harvestmen (order Opiliones) in the family Paranonychidae, established by Briggs in 1971. The genus comprises eight described species, all endemic to the northwestern United States. These arachnids belong to the suborder Laniatores, a diverse group of short-legged harvestmen. Most species were described in the original 1971 revision, with one additional species added in 2019.
Paranonychus brunneus
armoured harvestman
Paranonychus brunneus is an armoured harvestman (Order Opiliones) in the family Paranonychidae. The species was originally described as Sclerobunus brunneus by Banks in 1893 and later transferred to Paranonychus. It is found in western North America, with records from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. The species belongs to the suborder Laniatores, characterized by relatively short legs and heavily sclerotized body armor.
Phalangodes armata
Phalangodes armata is a species of harvestman (order Opiliones, suborder Laniatores) in the family Phalangodidae, described by Tellkampf in 1844. It belongs to the infraorder Grassatores, a diverse group of short-legged harvestmen characterized by their compact body form and often cryptic habits. As a member of the superfamily Phalangodoidea, this species represents one of the more derived lineages within the harvestmen, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Phalangodidae
Phalangodid Harvestmen
Phalangodidae is a family of small harvestmen in the suborder Laniatores, containing approximately 30 genera and more than 100 described species. Members are characterized by pedipalps armed with prominent spines and body lengths generally under 3 mm. The family is primarily distributed in the Holarctic region, with exceptional diversity in the western Nearctic, particularly California. Several species, especially in the genus Texella, are obligate cave-dwellers exhibiting troglomorphic traits such as depigmentation and reduced eyes.
Sitalcina borregoensis
Sitalcina borregoensis is a species of armoured harvestman (order Opiliones, suborder Laniatores) described by Briggs in 1968. It belongs to the family Phalangodidae, a group of small to medium-sized harvestmen characterized by well-developed body armor. The species is known from North America, with the specific epithet suggesting a connection to the Borrego region, likely in California.
Sitalcina seca
Sitalcina seca is a species of armoured harvestman described by Ubick & Briggs in 2008. It belongs to the family Phalangodidae, a group of small, often cave-dwelling or soil-associated harvestmen characterized by compact bodies and reduced eyes. The species is known from North America. As with many phalangodid harvestmen, detailed biological information remains limited.
Sitalcina sura
armoured harvestman
Sitalcina sura is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Phalangodidae, described by Briggs in 1968. It belongs to the suborder Laniatores, a diverse group of harvestmen characterized by relatively short legs and often heavily armoured bodies. The species is known to occur in North America. As with many phalangodid harvestmen, detailed ecological and behavioral information remains limited in published literature.
Stygnomma spiniferum
armoured harvestman
Stygnomma spiniferum is an armoured harvestman in the family Stygnommatidae, first described by Packard in 1888. The species is endemic to North America. Three subspecies have been recognized: S. s. spiniferum, S. s. bolivari, and S. s. tancahense, though the taxonomic status of these subspecies varies across sources. As a member of the Laniatores, it possesses raptorial pedipalps adapted for predation.
Tolus appalachius
Appalachian Cave Harvestman
Tolus appalachius is a small, eyeless cave-dwelling harvestman endemic to Tennessee. It is the sole described species in the genus Tolus. First described in 1942, this troglobitic arachnid is known from only a handful of cave systems in the Appalachian region. Its highly restricted distribution and specialized subterranean habitat make it vulnerable to environmental disturbances.
Travunioidea
travunioid harvestmen, armoured harvestmen
Travunioidea is a superfamily of armoured harvestmen (Opiliones: Laniatores) comprising four families and approximately 75-77 described species. It represents an early-diverging lineage within the suborder Laniatores, characterized by a Laurasian distribution spanning eastern Asia, eastern and western North America, and south-central Europe. Recent phylogenomic studies using ultraconserved elements (UCEs) have revised the classification, establishing the families Travuniidae, Cladonychiidae, Paranonychidae, and Cryptomastridae, while rejecting traditional tarsal claw-based taxonomy due to widespread homoplasy.
Wespus
Wespus is a genus of armoured harvestmen in the family Phalangodidae, established by Goodnight & Goodnight in 1942. It contains one described species, Wespus arkansasensis, known from Hot Springs, Arkansas. The genus belongs to the suborder Laniatores, a group of harvestmen characterized by robust bodies and raptorial pedipalps. Members are small, with the described species measuring approximately 2.2 mm in body length.
Zuma
harvestman
Zuma is a genus of harvestmen (arachnids in the order Opiliones) established by Goodnight & Goodnight in 1942. It belongs to the family Paranonychidae, a group of small, cryptic harvestmen often found in moist microhabitats. The genus is part of the diverse Laniatores suborder, characterized by relatively short legs and compact bodies compared to other harvestman groups.
Zuma tioga
Zuma tioga is an armoured harvestman (order Opiliones) described by Briggs in 1971. It belongs to the family Paranonychidae within the infraorder Insidiatores. The species is known from North America, though specific locality details beyond this broad region are not well documented. Like other members of its family, it is a small, soil-dwelling arachnid with a heavily sclerotized body.