Whole-collection COI barcoding of New Zealand neopilionids (Opiliones: Neopilionidae)

GREG HOLWELL; GIRIBET, GONZALO; KATE SHERIDAN; ABEL PÉREZ GONZÁLEZ; CHRISSIE J. PAINTING; PINTO DA ROCHA, RICARDO

Congreso; 21st International Congress of Arachnology; 2019

International Society of Arachnolog

The diverse order of Opiliones has provided New Zealand with two biogeographic models in two of its four extant suborders: Pettalidae (Cyphophthalmi) and Triaenonychidae (Laniatores). The Neopilionidae (Eupnoi) with more than 60 species worldwide is emerging as a third biogeographic model. New Zealand members of this southern temperate family have already been the subject of several taxonomic revisions. We have used CO1 barcoding for about 400 neopilionid specimens in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, and about 200 specimens from the University of Auckland to compile the most broadly-sampled phylogeny of New Zealand neopilionids, complemented with almost 100 specimens from South America and Australia The resulting phylogeny and distribution maps serve as a backbone for future study and collection efforts by the team, and provide the most broadly sampled phylogeny of New Zealand neopilionids. Of the over 500 terminals from New Zealand, approximately 87% are newly-sequenced. Additionally, previously unpublished data with almost 100 terminals of South American genera has been included in the analysis.