Neopilionidae
Creators: name: Taylor, Christopher K.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Opiliones
Neopilionidae

description: Key to New Zealand Palpatores
The New Zealand fauna of Palpatores (long-legged harvestmen) is dominated by members of the
Neopilionidae,
with all but three species belonging to that family. The Acropsopilionidae, a Gondwanan family recently recognised by Groh & Giribet (2015) as the sister lineage to the Northern Hemisphere Dyspnoi, are represented by a single species Acropsopilio neozelandiae (Forster 1948) (Acropsopilionidae). The families Phalangiidae and Sclerosomatidae are each represented by a single introduced species of European origin, Phalangium opilio Linnaeus 1758 (Phalangiidae) and Nelima doriae (Canestrini 1871) (Sclerosomatidae). Most New Zealand Neopilionidae are currently classified in the subfamily Enantiobuninae with the exception of the relictual Americovibone remota Taylor 2016 (Ballarrinae). Most females of the genera Pantopsalis and Forsteropsalis cannot currently be identified to species level by morphology alone. Confident identification of males may require examination of the penis, which at rest is concealed by the genital operculum. Cutting the connecting membranes along each side of the operculum will allow it to be pushed open, after which the penis may be removed with a pair of forceps.
Four species names have had to be omitted from the key owing to lack of data: Pantopsalis halli Hogg 1920, P. grayi Hogg 1920, P. wattsi Hogg 1920 and Forsteropsalis australis (Simon 1899). Pantopsalis halli and P. grayi are unidentifiable nomina dubia based on female specimens (Taylor 2004, 2011); the possibility exists that they represent synonyms of other established names but cannot be currently established as such. The status of F. australis is discussed in the taxonomic section below under Forsteropsalis, and that of P. wattsi is discussed under Puwere.
The female of Puwere pureora has not been formally described; it is included in the key below on the basis of observations on iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/450949-Forsteropsalis-pureora).
1. Ocularium extremely large, occupying greater part of carapace; pedipalp with tarsus shorter than tibia...................................................................................... Acropsopilio neozelandiae (Forster 1948) Ocularium much smaller, occupying small part of carapace only; pedipalp with tarsus longer than tibia................. 2
2. Legs relatively short and broad, length of femur I less than width of carapace...................................... 3 Legs long and slender, length of femur I greater than width of carapace.......................................... 6
3. Dorsum of body, including opisthosoma, heavily sclerotised and/or ornamented with numerous tubercles................ 4 Dorsum of opisthosoma soft, not heavily sclerotised, not ornamented with tubercles....... Accensus brevicrus new species
4. Opisthosoma with large, protruding lateral spines................................... Acihasta salebrosa Forster, 1948 Opisthosoma without such spines........................................................................ 5
5. Ocularium with large, anteriorly projecting promedian tubercle; dorsal tubercles of complex shape with lateral projections....................................................................... Monoscutum titirangiense Forster, 1948 Ocularium without anteriorly projecting tubercle; dorsal tubercles simple, rounded....... Templar incongruens Taylor, 2008
6. Pedipalp remarkably long, femur more than 1.5× body length, pedipalpal claw absent... Americovibone remota Taylor, 2016 Pedipalp shorter, femur at most only slightly longer than body length, pedipalpal claw present........................ 7
7. Dorsum of body heavily denticulate, with transverse rows of denticles on opisthosoma... Phalangium opilio Linnaeus, 1758 Dorsal denticulations, if present, on prosoma only; opisthosoma without transverse denticle rows...................... 8
8. Dorsum of body, including opisthosoma, more heavily sclerotised; ozopores small, rounded, and not flanked by protruding lobes; penis with lateral ‘wings’ behind glans-shaft junction, without bristle groups........ Nelima doriae (Canestrini, 1871) Dorsum less heavily sclerotised; ozopores larger, oblong, raised from lateral margin of prosoma on protruding lobes; penis with well-developed bristle groups behind glans-shaft junction, without lateral wings................................... 9
9. Pedipalpal patella with extremely long prodistal apophysis, much longer than main body of patella........................................................................................... Triascutum triascutum (Forster, 1944) Pedipalpal patella with prodistal apophysis, if present, distinctly shorter than main body of patella.................... 10
10. Chelicerae very large, more or less strongly denticulate, rising well above dorsum of body at rest (males).............. 11 Chelicerae small, usually not denticulate, not rising above dorsum of body at rest (females)......................... 31
11. Pedipalpal claw with ventral tooth-row; penis with glans short and deep in lateral view, about as long as wide in ventral view........................................................................ Mangatangi parvum Taylor, 2013a Pedipalpal claw without ventral tooth-row; penis with glans longer than wide in ventral view........................ 12
12. Pedipalps relatively long, with femur 1.2× or more length of prosoma........................................... 13 Pedipalps shorter, with femur 1.1× or less length of prosoma.................................................. 18
13. Cheliceral basal segment with distinct ventrolateral rows of widely spaced, elongate denticles; pedipalp lacking both denticles and apophysis............................................................... Maikukunui tokerau new species Cheliceral basal segment without such denticle rows; pedipalp with distinct prodistal apophysis on patella and/or denticles on femur.............................................................................................. 14
14. Penis with glans distinctly longer than wide and subrectangular in ventral view................................... 15 Penis with glans about as long as wide and subtriangular in ventral view......................................... 16
15. Cheliceral second segment with prominent longitudinal rows of enlarged denticles; prodistal apophysis on pedipalpal patella rounded…...................................................... Ungoliant photophaga (Taylor & Probert 2014) Cheliceral second segment without such denticle rows, denticulation more even; prodistal apophysis on pedipalpal patella triangular.................................................................. Pakaka grimmetti (Forster, 1944)
16. Pedipalpal patella with distinct finger-like prodistal apophysis; pedipalpal femur with denticles both dorsally and ventrally 17 Pedipalpal patella with prodistal protrusion but without distinctly finger-like apophysis; pedipalpal femur with denticles dorsally only................................................................ Ungoliant bona (Taylor & Probert, 2014)
17. Penis with glans shorter, sides evenly converging in ventral view, glans appearing triangular in lateral view........................................................................... Ungoliant fabulosa (Phillipps & Grimmett, 1932) Penis with glans relatively longer, sides slightly concave in ventral view, glans appearing flattened in lateral view................................................................................... Ungoliant turneri (Marples, 1944)
18. Pedipalpal patella lacking distinct apophysis, with dense covering of setae prodistally; pedipalpal coxa prolaterally unarmed; penis with bristle groups short, anterior bristles not or barely overlapping base of posterior.......................... 19 Pedipalpal patella without dense setae prolaterally, may have distinct apophysis; pedipalpal coxa with distinct array of denticles prolaterally; penis with bristle groups relatively long, anterior bristles well overlapping base of posterior............... 27
19. Penis with dorsal keel on glans, so distal end is rectangular in lateral view....................................... 20 Penis without dorsal keel on glans, so distal end is triangular in lateral view...................................... 25
20. Carapace entirely unarmed; legs sparsely denticulate with femur I having denticles dorsally only, separated by more than twice their height................................................................ Pantopsalis rennelli Forster, 1964 Carapace usually with at least a few denticles anterior to ocularium; legs more heavily denticulate both dorsally and ventrally with many separated by less than twice their height......................................................... 21
21. Ocularium distinctly denticulate......................................................................... 22 Ocularium largely unarmed (may possess single pair of denticles towards rear of ocularium)......................... 24
22. Penis with glans relatively long, distinctly longer than deep in lateral view....................................... 23 Penis with glans relatively short, about as long as deep in lateral view................... Pantopsalis johnsi Forster, 1964
23. Dorsum of opisthosoma and rear margin of carapace with extensive pale markings, including broad transverse stripe across rear margin of carapace and pale coloration on lateral margins of opisthosoma................ Pantopsalis pococki Hogg, 1920 Dorsum of body largely unicoloured......................................... Pantopsalis albipalpis Pocock, 1903a
24. Carapace with few denticles anterior to ocularium; legs more moderate in length with femur II about three times carapace width; opisthosoma with light-coloured lateral markings not extending to transverse stripes................................................................................................... Pantopsalis phocator Taylor, 2004 Carapace largely unarmed; legs remarkably long with femur II about four times carapace width; opisthosoma with light-coloured transverse stripes.................................................. Pantopsalis coronata Pocock, 1903b
25. Carapace denticulate anterior to ocularium................................................................ 26 Carapace unarmed....................................................... Pantopsalis snaresensis Forster, 1964
26. Ocularium denticulate................................................. Pantopsalis cheliferoides (Colenso, 1882) Ocularium unarmed.......................................................... Pantopsalis listeri (White, 1849)
27. Entire carapace heavily denticulate, including mesopeltidium; penis with glans elongate, in ventral view with basal constriction followed by elongate section with subparallel sides................................ Shelob inconstans (Forster, 1944) Carapace much less denticulate, with mesopeltidium unarmed; penis with glans in ventral view either shorter, about as long as wide, or sides subparallel without basal constriction......................................................... 28
28. Denticles on anterior corners of dorsum of prosoma only, remainder unarmed....... Forsteropsalis distincta (Forster, 1964) Denticles present on prosoma anterior to ocularium......................................................... 29
29. Dorsum of prosoma distinctly denticulate on anterior corners; pedipalpal patella with small but distinct, triangular prodistal apophysis; penis with sides of glans converging in ventral view................................................ 30 Dorsum of prosoma without denticles on anterior corners; pedipalpal patella with prodistal protrusion but without distinct apophysis overlapping tibia; penis with sides of glans subparallel in ventral view.......... Puwere pureora (Taylor, 2013a)
30. Tibia II with less than six pseudosegments; length of femur II less than 3× body width.. Forsteropsalis chiltoni (Hogg, 1910) Tibia II with more than six or more pseudosegments; length of femur II more than 3× body width........................................................................................... Forsteropsalis marplesi (Forster, 1944)
31. Pedipalpal femur longer than prosoma.................................................................... 32 Pedipalpal femur shorter than prosoma................................................................... 33
32. Opisthosoma broad, somewhat dorsoventrally flattened; venter with strongly matt pale coloration............................................................................................... Pakaka grimmetti (Forster, 1944) Opisthosoma narrower, not dorsoventrally flattened; ventral coloration not matt............................. Ungoliant
33. Pedipalpal patella with large, rounded, densely setose prodistal apophysis; dorsum of opisthosoma with pale longitudinal median stripe................................................................................ Pantopsalis Pedipalpal patella with prodistal apophysis small and triangular or absent, less densely setose; dorsum of opisthosoma with dark medial markings forming a rectangular ‘saddle’ on anterior segments........................................... 33
34. Pedipalpal claw with ventral tooth-row........................................ Mangatangi parvum (Taylor, 2013a) Pedipalpal claw without ventral tooth-row................................................................. 34
35. Dorsum with extensive covering of spiculate black setae............................................ Forsteropsalis Dorsum with few, scattered black setae................................................................... 36
36. Pedipalpal patella with small but distinct mediodistal apophysis............................................... 37 Pedipalpal patella lacking apophysis............................................. Maikukunui tokerau new species
37. Dark ‘saddle’ on first two segments of opisthosoma demarcated by narrow pale stripes laterally, with narrow pale median stripe on remaining segments of opisthosoma (Fig. 8b)................................... Puwere pureora (Taylor, 2013a) Dark ‘saddle’ on first two segments of opisthosoma not demarcated by pale stripes laterally, with more or less distinct broad pale median stripe on remaining segments of opisthosoma (fig. 8d).................... Shelob inconstans (Forster, 1944)
description: Published as part of Taylor, Christopher K., 2025, Further discussion of relationships within Australasian Neopilionidae (Opiliones: Phalangioidea), with description of two new species and eight new genera, pp. 52-82 in Zootaxa 5631 (1) on pages 61-63, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5631.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/15326621