Phylogeny, evolution and systematic revision of the mite harvestman family Neogoveidae (Opiliones Cyphophthalmi)

Abstract

Mite harvestmen of the family Neogoveidae have a tropical trans-Atlantic distribution with representatives in equatorial West Africa and the Neotropics, specifically in the south-east region of the USA and in northern South America, being conspicuously absent from Central America. We provide a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the family including representatives of all genera but the monotypic Tucanogovea Karaman, 2013, and new information on the type species described by Jochen Martens in 1969 that were unavailable for molecular study until now: Brasiliogovea microphaga, Metagovea oviformis and ‘? Gen. enigmaticus’. Additionally, we revisit the somatic and male genitalic morphology of representatives of all genera by means of scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, and describe the new genera Leggogovia Benavides & Giribet, gen. nov., Microgovia Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, gen. nov., Waiwaigovia Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, gen. nov. and 13 new species: Brasiliogovea aphantostylus Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov., Brasiliogovea microstylus Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov., Brasiliogovea yacambuensis Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov., Metagovea matapi Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov., Metagovea planada Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov., Microgovia chenepau Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov., Neogovea branstetteri Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov., Neogovea enigmatica Martens, sp. nov., Neogovea matawai Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov., Parogovia montealensis Benavides & Giribet, sp. nov., Parogovia prietoi Benavides & Giribet, sp. nov., Parogovia putnami Benavides & Giribet, sp. nov. and Waiwaigovia schultzi Benavides, Hormiga & Giribet, sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses based on maximum likelihood, parsimony and Bayesian inference support the monophyly of Neogoveidae and a sister group relationship of Neogoveidae + Ogoveidae with Troglosironidae (a clade named Sternophthalmi). Relationships among neogoveid genera are largely congruent between methods as follows: ((Leggogovia gen. nov., Metasiro), (Parogovia, ((Canga, Microgovia gen. nov.), ((Brasiliogovea, Neogovea), (Huitaca, (Waiwaigovia gen. nov., Metagovea)))))). In light of our results, the following taxonomic changes are proposed: Metagovea oviformis Martens, 1969 is transferred to Microgovia, gen. nov.; Parogovia pabsgarnoni Legg, 1990 is transferred to Leggogovia, gen. nov.; ‘? Gen. enigmaticus Martens, 1969’ is an invalid name according to the ICZN; the corresponding taxon is redescribed and formally named as Neogovea enigmatica Martens, sp. nov.