Rank Genus | Superfamily Nemastomatoidea | |
Similar Ceratolasmatidae, Dicranolasmatidae, Neogoveidae, Escadabiidae, Caddidae | ||
The Nipponopsalididae are a family of harvestmen with two described species.
Contents
Description
They range in body length from 2.3 to 4.1 mm. Their eyes are rather large for harvestmen, and they have chelicerae that are longer than their body, and even longer, slender pedipalps and long legs. The females are larger than males.
Distribution
This small family was once thought to be endemic to Japan. However, a species from Korea was later found. A supposed find from Russia was based on a misidentification.
Relationships
The Nipponopsalididae are the sister group to other Troguloidea. The overall similarity to Ischyropsalis (Ischyropsalididae), where the type species was originally placed, is a case of convergence.
Name
The genus name Nipponopsalis is a combination of Nippon = Japan, and the ending of the harvestman genus Ischyropsalis.