Notes on African Biantinae with sexual dimorphism in leg II: five new Metabiantes species and redescription of Clinobiantes paradoxus (Opiliones: Laniatores: Biantidae)

  • Vanesa Mamani División Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9748-5339
  • Merlijn Jocqué Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology (ATECO), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
  • Abel Pérez-González División Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Buenos Aires, Argentina
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.1006.2989
Keywords: harvestmen, taxonomy, leaf-litter-dwelling, canopy-dwelling, Central Africa

Abstract

This study deals with a group of African biantines harvestmen (Biantidae: Biantinae) that exhibit a unique sexual dimorphism on legs II, where the males possess a widened femur II and metatarsus II armed with ventral rows of triangular tubercles. Clinobiantes paradoxus Roewer, 1927, is redescribed and illustrated, including detailed illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genital morphology based on an examination of type material, with a lectotype designated herein. In addition, five new species of Metabiantes Roewer, 1915, also with dimorphic legs II, from tropical African countries are described and illustrated in detail: M. elongatus sp. nov., M. serratus sp. nov., and M. kivuensis sp. nov. from Democratic Republic of the Congo, M. herculeus sp. nov. from Tanzania, and M. kaurii sp. nov. from Mozambique. These findings enhance our knowledge within Metabiantes diversity, provide new insights into the distribution of Biantidae in tropical Africa, and highlight the morphological diversity associated with sexual dimorphism in the group.

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Published
2025-08-01
How to Cite
Mamani, V., Jocqué, M., & Pérez-González, A. (2025). Notes on African Biantinae with sexual dimorphism in leg II: five new Metabiantes species and redescription of Clinobiantes paradoxus (Opiliones: Laniatores: Biantidae). European Journal of Taxonomy, 1006(1), 1–58. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.1006.2989
Issue
Vol. 1006 (2025)
Section
Monograph

Copyright (c) 2025 Vanesa Mamani, Merlijn Jocqué, Abel Pérez-González

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