Revisão taxonômica e análise filogenética do complexo Paecilaemella Roewer, 1925 e Paecilaemana roewer, 1928 (arachnida: opiliones: cosmetidae)

Abstract

The family Cosmetidae, the most diverse among harvestmen in the Neotropics, has been the focus of studies aiming to clarify its internal relationships and define infra-familial groups. Despite these efforts, the group still requires further research based on taxonomic approaches involving phylogenetic analyses that integrate different types of data to elucidate relationships within the family. Aiming to clarify the relationships within Paecilaemella Roewer, 1925 and Paecilaemana Roewer, 1928, genera belonging to the subfamily Flirteinae, we conducted a cladistic analysis by expanding the morphological matrix used in previous studies. The results show that Paecilaemella and Paecilaemana are monophyletic groups, mainly distinguished by the type of swelling on the basitarsomere of leg I in males. We provide a new diagnosis for Paecilaemella, and its species are redescribed. One species previously placed in Paecilaemella, Paecilaemella ornata (Roewer, 1912), was recovered as part of an undescribed genus, together with an undescribed species identified in the examined material. Our study identified a large number of undescribed species in both genera, highlighting that further research on this group is essential for advancing the knowledge of Flirteinae and the family Cosmetidae as a whole. Additionally, the known distribution of the taxa was updated, and taxonomic remarks were made for the species of Paecilaemana. The collection and study of male specimens, especially for Paecilaemana, is crucial for clarifying and understanding the evolutionary relationships within the group.