Podoctidae
Encyclopedia
Podoctidae is a family of the harvestman infraorder Grassatores
with about 130 described species.
, especially in New Guinea
. Others are found in Melanesia
, Micronesia
, Japan
, India
and Sri Lanka
, Madagascar
, the Seychelles
and Mauritius
, and central Africa
. Ibantila cubana was introduced in a botanical garden in Cuba
. Although one Podoctidae was described from Brazil in 1938, it was later transferred to Triaenonychidae
.
, and are surely Grassatores
, there is no obvious relationship with any family.
podos "foot" and oktis "spine", referring to the ventral row of long spines in femur I.
Grassatores
Grassatores is the most diverse infraorder of the Laniatores. It includes over 3,500 species distributed mainly in the World Tropics...
with about 130 described species.
Description
Body length ranges from 2.5 to 5 millimeters, with leg length ranging from three to almost thirty mm. While most species are brown to yellow, some are deep green. The legs may be ringed in black and yellow. The penis is uniquely built.Distribution
Most species occur in Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, especially in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. Others are found in Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
, Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, and central Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Ibantila cubana was introduced in a botanical garden in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Although one Podoctidae was described from Brazil in 1938, it was later transferred to Triaenonychidae
Triaenonychidae
The Triaenonychidae are a family of harvestmen with about 120 genera and more than 440 described species.-Description:Most Triaenonychidae are from three to five millimeters long, although some species from South Africa can be only long. Some species in the subfamily Adaeinae are almost long....
.
Relationships
Although Podoctidae are currently included in SamooideaSamooidea
Samooidea is a large superfamily in the Grassatores group of harvestmen. It includes around 380 species distributed throughout the tropics. They are characterized by the complex male genitalia, with eversible complementary sclerites....
, and are surely Grassatores
Grassatores
Grassatores is the most diverse infraorder of the Laniatores. It includes over 3,500 species distributed mainly in the World Tropics...
, there is no obvious relationship with any family.
Name
The name of the type genus is derived from Ancient GreekAncient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
podos "foot" and oktis "spine", referring to the ventral row of long spines in femur I.
Erecananinae
- Erecanana Strand, 1911 — AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, RéunionRéunionRéunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
(9 species) - Iyonus Suzuki, 1964 — JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(1 species) - Lomanius Roewer, 1923 — JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, PalauPalauPalau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
, TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(8 species)
Ibaloniinae
- Asproleria Roewer, 1949 — New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
(1 species) - Austribalonius Forster, 1955 — AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(1 species) - Bonea Roewer, 1913 — IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(8 species) - Eusitalces Roewer, 1915 — Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
(1 species) - Gargenna Roewer, 1949 — Indonesia (1 species)
- Heteroibalonius Goodnight & Goodnight, 1947 (1 species)
- Heteropodoctis Roewer, 1912 — New Guinea (1 species)
- Holozoster Loman, 1902 — SeychellesSeychellesSeychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
(1 species) - Ibalonianus Roewer, 1923 — New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomons (7 species)
- Ibalonius Karsch, 1880 — Philippines, New CaledoniaNew CaledoniaNew Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, Seychelles, New Guinea (17 species) - Ibantila Silhavy, 1969 — CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
(introduced) (1 species) - Leytpodoctis J. Martens, 1993 - Philippines (1 species)
- Mesoceratula Roewer, 1949 (1 species)
- Metibalonius Roewer, 1915 — New Guinea, Indonesia (17 species)
- Orobunus Goodnight & Goodnight, 1947 (1 species)
- Paramesoceras Roewer, 1915 — New Guinea (1 species)
- Pentacros Roewer, 1949 — Indonesia (1 species)
- Podoctinus Roewer, 1923 — New BritainNew BritainNew Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
(1 species) - Proholozoster Roewer, 1915 — New Guinea (1 species)
- Santobius Roewer, 1949 — New HebridesNew HebridesNew Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
(1 species) - Sitalcicus Roewer, 1923 — Seychelles (3 species)
Podoctinae
- Baramella Roewer, 1949 — BorneoBorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
(1 species) - Baramia Hirst, 1912 — Indonesia (4 species)
- Baso Roewer, 1923 — SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
(1 species) - Basoides Roewer, 1949 — Sumatra (1 species)
- Bistota Roewer, 1927 — IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(1 species) - Centrobunus Loman, 1902 — Seychelles (1 species)
- Dino Loman, in Weber 1892 — Sumatra (1 species)
- DongmoaDongmoaDongmoa is a harvestman genus in the family Podoctidae with 2 described species....
Roewer, 1927 — Tonking (2 species) - Eupodoctis Roewer, 1923 — India, Sri Lanka (2 species)
- Eurytromma Roewer, 1949 — Sri Lanka (1 species)
- Gaditusa Roewer, 1949 — Borneo (1 species)
- Hoplodino Roewer, 1915 — Indonesia, SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
(4 species) - Idjena Roewer, 1927 — Java (1 species)
- Idzubius Roewer, 1949 — Japan (1 species)
- Japetus Roewer, 1949 — Borneo (1 species)
- Laponcea Roewer, 1936 — MauritiusMauritiusMauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
(1 species) - Lejokus Roewer, 1949 — Borneo (1 species)
- Lundulla Roewer, 1927 — Borneo (1 species)
- Metapodoctis Roewer, 1915 — Taiwan, ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(2 species) - Neopodoctis Roewer, 1912 — Sri Lanka (2 species)
- Oppodoctis Roewer, 1927 — Philippines (1 species)
- Peromona Roewer, 1949 — Seychelles (1 species)
- Podoctellus Roewer, 1949 — Johore (1 species)
- Podoctis Thorell, 1890 — Pinang (1 species)
- Podoctomma Roewer, 1949 — Java (1 species)
- Podoctops Roewer, 1949 — Sumatra (1 species)
- Pumbaraius Roewer, 1927 — India (2 species)
- Sibolgia Roewer, 1923 — Sumatra (1 species)
- Stobitus Roewer, 1949 — Malaysia (1 species)
- Tandikudius Roewer, 1929 — India (1 species)
- Trencona Roewer, 1949 — Borneo (1 species)
- Trigonobunus Loman, 1894 — Borneo (1 species)
- Tryssetus Roewer, 1936 — Mauritius (1 species)
- Vandaravua Roewer, 1929 — India (1 species)