Taxonomy Of The Epedanidae From China(Arachnida: Opiliones)

Epedanidae belong to Arachnida,Opiliones,Laniatores,Epedanoidae,which have been known about four subfamilies,71 genera and 192 species all over the world while known about three subfamilies,12 genera and 16 species in China.In this paper,a comprehensive taxonomy of Epedanidae in China has been dealed with by using morphological classification method.The present paper was divided into two parts: the general accout and the systematic accout.The general accout briefly introduced statue and system of classification,research history and the method of taxonomy.In addition,the morphological characteristics biology and phylogenetic relationships of the Epedanidae were also introduced.In the systematic accout,the existing specimens of the Epedanidae were identified,described and measured in detail;according to the original documents,the identification features and morphological descriptions of unexamined specimens were sorted out,and the preservation places of the type specimens were listed;the key tables of subfamilies,genera and species were compiled.This study involved 26 species of 17 genera,belonging to three subfamilies of Epedanidae from china.Compared to before this study(16 species of 12 genera),a total of five genera and 10 species have been added(which includes two new genera,three new record genera,eight new species,two new record species).New genera include Pseutakaoia gen.nov.and Paraepedanus gen.nov.New record genera include Epedanus Thorell,1876,Metathyreotus Roewer,1913 and Punanus Roewer,1938.New species include Epedanus brevispinus sp.nov.,Pseutakaoia hamata sp.nov.,Plistobunus unispinosus sp.nov.,Plistobunus gracilis sp.nov.,Neoepedanus daqingensis sp.nov.,Paraepedanus fasciane sp.nov.,Punanus longlingensis sp.nov.and Epedanellus nigrus sp.nov.New record species include Metathyreotus aborensis Roewer,1913 and Metathyreotus kempi Roewer,1913.The paper includes 42 detailed morphological figures.The preservation information of type material of unexamined specimens and new taxa of this paper is shown in the Appendix.If there is no special indication,all specimens are deposited in the Museum of Hebei University(MHBU),Baoding City,China.