Revision of the South African geogarypidae (arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones)

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Date
2015-01
Authors
Neethling, Jan Andries
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Despite a recent order-level revision published by Harvey (1992b), where, through the use of 126 morphological characters, 24 families were recognized, detailed morphological and ecological data is still sorely lacking for the vast majority of pseudoscorpions, including the poorly-known South African fauna. Taking this into consideration, the need for detailed revisions of our indigenous fauna was recognized. To this end, the family Geogarypidae, originally a subfamily of Garypidae, but recently elevated to full familial status (Harvey 1986), was chosen to spearhead this endeavour as our indigenous fauna only consisted of eight described species in two genera (Afrogarypus Beier, 1931 and Geogarypus Chamberlin, 1930). This study is the first holistic approach to the classification of South African pseudoscorpions, taking both morphological as well as molecular phylogenetic (COI and 28S) data into consideration. Results showed the morphology and phylogenetics complemented each other and that there are 18 distinct species of Geogarypidae within South Africa, nine of which are new to science namely, A. carmenae sp. nov., A. castigatus sp. nov., A. megamolaris sp. nov., G. deceptor sp. nov., G. liomendontus sp. nov., G. modjadji sp. nov., G. octoramosus sp. nov., G. tectomaculatus sp. nov. and G. variaspinosus sp. nov. These are divided into three major clades, one corresponding to Geogarypus and two to Afrogarypus. Four species previously from Geogarypus were found to belong to the Afrogarypus clades and are transferred. The data also supports the separation of G. olivaceus (Tullgren, 1907) and G. flavus (Beier, 1947) (synonymised by Beier in 1964), with the latter revalidated. Lastly, the two subspecies A. excelsus excelsus (Beier, 1964) and A. excelsus excellens (Beier, 1964) are synonymised under A. excelsus (Beier, 1964) stat. nov.
Afrikaans: Ten spyte van 'n onlangse orde-vlak hersiening gepubliseer deur Harvey (1992b), waar, deur die gebruik van 126 morfologiese karakters, 24 families herken was, ontbreek gedetailleerde morfologiese en ekologiese data oor die meerderheid van vals-skerpioene, insluitend die swak bekende Suid-Afrikaanse fauna. Laaste in ag geneem, was die behoefte vir gedetailleerde hersienings oor ons inheemse fauna duidelik. Die familie Geogarypidae, oorspronklik 'n subfamilie van Garypidae, wat onlangs tot vol familiestatus verhef is (Harvey 1986), was gekies om die poging te lei aangesien ons inheemse fauna slegs uit agt beskryfde spesies in twee genera (Afrogarypus Beier, 1931 en Geogarypus Chamberlin, 1930) bestaan. Hierdie studie verteenwoordig die eerste holistiese benadering tot die klassifikasie van Suid-Afrikaanse vals-skerpioene, deur beide morfologiese en molekulêre filogenetiese (28S en COI) data in ag te neem. Resultate het getoon dat die morfologie en filogenie mekaar komplimenteer en dat daar 18 unieke spesies Geogarypidae binne Suid-Afrika voorkom, nege voorheen onbekend tot die wetenskap naamlik, A. carmenae sp. nov., A. castigatus sp. nov., A. megamolaris sp. nov., G. deceptor sp. nov., G. liomendontus sp. nov., G. modjadji sp. nov., G. octoramosus sp. nov., G. tectomaculatus sp. nov. and G. variaspinosus sp. nov. Die spesies is verdeel in drie klades, een wat ooreenstem met Geogarypus en twee wat ooreenstem met Afrogarypus. Vier spesies voorheen in Geogarypus is gevind wat om aan die Afrogarypus klades te behoort, en word oorgeplaas. Die data ondersteun verder die skeiding van G. olivaceus (Tullgren, 1907) en G. flavus (Beier, 1947) (gesinonimiseer deur Beier in 1964), met die laasgenoemde weer bekragtig. Laastens word die twee subspesies, A. excelsus excellens (Beier, 1964) en A. excelsus excelsus (Beier, 1964), gesinonimiseer onder A. excelsus (Beier, 1964) stat. nov.
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Geogarypidae, Pseudoscorpiones -- South Africa, Morphology, Phylogenetics, Dissertation M.Sc. (Zoology & Entomology))--University of the Free State, 2015
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