Biantidae is a family of the harvestman infraorder Grassatores with about 130 described species. (2007): Biantidae Thorell, 1889. In: Pinto-da-Rocha et al. 2007: 176ff
Description Biantidae are between 1.5 and 5.5 millimeters long, with legs ranging from three to 25 mm and enlarged, armed pedipalps. Many species are mahogany, many others yellow with dark mottling.
Distribution Biantidae have radiated greatly on the Indian subcontinent and Madagascar (which was once connected to India), with many other species from mainland Africa. One subfamily however, the Stenostygninae, is found on the West Indies, with one described species from mainland northern South America.
Relationships Biantidae are included in the superfamily Samooidea, which mainly radiated in South America.
Name The type genus is named after Biantes, the son of Parthenopaeus, one of the Epigoni who marched against Thebes in Greek mythology.
Genera
For a list of all described species, see the List of Biantidae species.
Biantinae Anaceros Lawrence, 1959 — Madagascar (4 species) Biantella Roewer, 1927 — Cameroon (1 species) Biantes Simon, 1885 — Nepal, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Seychelles (30 species) Biantessus Roewer, 1949 — South Africa (2 species) Biantomma Roewer, 1942 — Equatorial Guinea (Bioko) (1 species) Clinobiantes Roewer, 1927 — Cameroon (1 species) Cryptobiantes Kauri, 1962 South Africa (1 species) Eubiantes Roewer, 1915 — Tanzania (1 species) Fageibiantes Roewer, 1949 — Madagascar (2 species) Hinzuanius Karsch, 1880 — Madagascar, Socotra, Comoros, Ethiopia (14 species) Ivobiantes Lawrence, 1965 — Ivory Coast (1 species) Metabiantes Roewer, 1915 — Africa (various countries) (41 species) Monobiantes Lawrence, 1962 — Kenya (1 species) Probiantes Roewer, 1927 — India (1 species) Tetebius Roewer, 1949 — Mozambique (1 species)
Lacurbsinae Eulacurbs Roewer, 1949 — Ghana (1 species) Heterolacurbs Roewer, 1912 — Togo (1 species) Lacurbs Sørensen, 1896 — Cameroon, Ivory Coast (2 species) Metalacurbs Roewer, 1914 — western Africa (4 species) Prolacurbs Roewer, 1949 — Ghana (1 species)
Stenostygninae Bidoma Silhavy, 1973 — Haiti (1 species) Caribbiantes Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (3 species) Decuella Avram, 1977 — Cuba (1 species) Galibrotus Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (3 species) Heterolacurbs Roewer, 1912 — Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands (2 species, inc. Martibianta Silhavy, 1973) (!After Hallan) Manahunca Silhavy, 1973 — Cuba (3 species) Negreaella Avram, 1977 — Cuba (5 species) Stenostygnus Simon, 1879 — northern South America (1 species) Vestitecola Silhavy, 1973 — Haiti (1 species)
Zairebiantinae Zairebiantes H. Kauri, 1985 — Zaire (1 species)
Footnotes
References 's Biology Catalog: Biantidae (eds.) (2007): Harvestmen - The Biology of Opiliones. Harvard University Press