Rakaia (harvestman) explained

Rakaia is a genus of harvestmen in the family Pettalidae with eighteen described species (as of 2023). All species are found in New Zealand.

Description

The genus Rakaia was described by Hirst, 1926 with the type species Rakaia antipodiana Hirst, 1926. In the past, additional species since placed in Aoraki or Austropurcellia were once included.

Species

These species belong to the genus Rakaia:

• Rakaia antipodiana Hirst, 1926New Zealand
• Rakaia australis Forster, 1952New Zealand
• Rakaia collaris Roewer, 1942New Zealand
• Rakaia digitata Forster, 1952New Zealand
• Rakaia dorothea Phillipps & Grimmett, 1932New Zealand
• Rakaia florensis Forster, 1948New Zealand
• Rakaia insula Forster, 1952New Zealand
• Rakaia isolata Forster, 1952New Zealand
• Rakaia lindsayi Forster, 1952New Zealand
• Rakaia macra Boyer & Giribet, 2003New Zealand
• Rakaia magna Forster, 1948New Zealand
• Rakaia media Forster, 1948New Zealand
• Rakaia minutissima Forster, 1948New Zealand
• Rakaia pauli Forster, 1952New Zealand
• Rakaia solitaria Forster, 1948New Zealand
• Rakaia sorenseni Forster, 1952New Zealand
• Rakaia stewartiensis Forster, 1948New Zealand
• Rakaia uniloca Forster, 1952New Zealand

Etymology

The genus is feminine.

Further reading

• (eds.) (2007). Harvestmen – The Biology of Opiliones. Harvard University Press, USA.