Lacronia


Lacronia is a genus of South American harvestmen, which includes five Brazilian species. A striking diagnostic character is the trochanter IV of male with strong medial prolateral apophysis forming a pincer with the dorso-apical apophysis of coxa IV.

Taxonomic history

This genus was at first named Luederwaldtia by Mello-Leitão in 1923, but the name was already preoccupied, being a junior homonym of Luederwaldtia Schmidt, 1922. Strand proposed the valid replacement name Lacronia, which was ignored by most subsequent authors and unearthed only 60 years later.

Species

Lacronia camboriu – Santa CatarinaLacronia ceci – Rio [de Janeiro] Lacronia ricardoi – São PauloLacronia serripes – São PauloLacronia utaru – Paraná

Ecological remarks

Lacronia ceci is the first species of the genus to be found in highlands away from the coast. The other three species of Lacronia are known from coastal environments: Lacronia serripes is known only from small islands. The other two were found in continental "restinga" biome. Individuals of both sexes of Lacronia ceci were found inside bamboo hollows or in immediately surrounding areas. No individuals were found in other locations during diurnal collectings. Lacronia camboriu and L. ricardoi were found inside bromeliads, suggesting that the species of this genus are related to phytotelmata.