A TENTATIVE REVISION OF THE DAESIIDAE (ARACHNIDA, SOLIFUGAE) FROM ETHIOPIA AND SOMALIA

Abstract

SUMMARY It is difficult to summarize the results of a paper such as this; however it appears that some points are worth mentioning. The addition of a number of new localities to the record of the various species is a result only to be expected, when one considers the poor state of our knowledge of the fauna of Ethiopia and Somalia. Two new species (Gluviopsis butes, Eberlanzia? benedicti) and three new subspecies are described (Bit on lividus aristomenes, Blossiola nigripalpis agriope, Gluviopsis rufescens pygmaea). The discovery of Blossiola and Eberlanzia (or a form closely related to this genus) in Somalia is particularly interesting. The genera Gnosippus, Gluviopsis, Tarablossia are discussed. It is can be concluded that Tarablossia is a synonym of Gluviopsis. It is suggested that Gnosippus, sensu ROEWER, be split and the new genus Ceratobiton is proposed for Gnosippus styloceros. Some aspects of the taxonomic characters and nomenclature of Biton are discussed. Gluviema migiurtina Di Caporiacco is found to be an immature Galeodidae and thus the total number of species of Daesidae recorded from our region is 24. Finally the more significant result of our research is once again to challenge the basic taxonomic criteria followed by ROEWER and to emphasize the difficulty of using tarsal spinulation as a diagnostic character.