Synthetonychiidae Explained

The Synthetonychiidae are a small family of harvestman with a handful of species in a single genus. They are endemic to New Zealand.

Description

Species in this family are between one and two millimeters long, with legs up to almost six mm.^[1]

Distribution

All described species occur only on New Zealand.^[1]

Relationships

Synthetonychiidae seem to be closely related to the Triaenonychidae from the Australian region.^[1]

Name

The name of the type genus is combined from Ancient Greek synthetos "compounded" and onychion, the diminutive of onyx "claw".^[1]

Species

In Synthetonychia Forster, 1954:

• Synthetonychia oliveae Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia acuta Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia cornua Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia fiordensis Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia glacialis Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia florae Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia hughsoni Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia minuta Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia obtusa Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia oparara Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia proxima Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia ramosa Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia sinuosa Forster, 1954
• Synthetonychia wairarapae Forster, 1954

References

• (eds.) (2007): Harvestmen - The Biology of Opiliones. Harvard University Press

Notes and References

1. (2007): Synthetonychiidae. Forster, 1954. In: Pinto-da-Rocha et al. 2007: 239ff