Cladistic Analysis and a Revised Classification of the Family Anisembiidae (Embioptera) with a Catalog of the South American Species

Abstract

A taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the family Anisembiidae is presented using117 morphological characters and 107 taxa representing genera and higher groups. This studyprovides a revised classification of the family including taxonomic actions, phylogenetic relationships, composition, and distributions, with the identification of four new species and a catalog of the South American anisembiids. A complete discussion and illustration of the main morphological traits is provided. We propose the following seven subfamilies (numbers of species in parentheses): Saussurembiinae Ross, new status, including a single genus, Saussurembia Davis, 1940 (7); Anisembiinae Ross with new delimitations including six genera: Anisembia Krauss (1), Ectyphocerca Ross (1), Exochosembia (2), Isosembia Ross (1), Mesembia Ross (1) and Pogonembia Ross (2); Bulbocercinae Szumik and Juárez, new subfamily, including only the genus Bulbocerca Ross (4); Glyphembiinae Szumik and Juárez, new subfamily, including a single genus, Glyphembia Ross (= new senior synonym of Scolembia Ross, 12 spp., one new species); Chorisembiinae Ross with new delimitations including four genera: Aporembia Ross (1), Chorisembia (2, including a new species), Microembia Ross (1) and Poinarembia Ross (1); Phallosembiinae Szumik and Juárez, new subfamily, including the genus Phallosembia Ross (1); Chelicercinae Ross with new delimitation, including Brasilembia Ross (1), Chelicerca Ross (= new junior synonym Oncosembia Ross, 79 spp., two new species), Platyembia Ross (1). The four new species described, diagnosed, and illustrated are: Chelicerca bifida Juárez and Szumik, new species, Chelicerca picchua Juárez, new species, both from Peru, Chorisembia zaita Szumik, new species, from Venezuela, and Glyphembia coliejo Szumik and Juárez, new species, from Bolivia. Additionally, for the first time the females of the species of Glyphembia and Chelicerca ittakua Szumik are included.