Identification:
Natural History:
Eupnoi are long-legged wanderers (typical “daddy longlegs”), and essentially all harvestmen collected (or seen) by researchers or interested naturalists are members of this suborder. An example is the conspicuous and abundant Leiobunum of the eastern US; a western equivalent would be Protolophus (although only active in the Spring & early Summer). Most Eupnoi are found in forested habitats, although some western species are harsh desert-dwellers (e.g., Eurybunus), or high-elevation specialists (e.g., Leptobunus, Togwoteeus).
Diversity & Distribution:
- F. Caddidae – Caddo (Appalachians northward)
Superfamily Phalangioidea
- F. Protolophidae – Protolophus (western US)
- F. Phalangiidae – Lacinius, Leptobunus, Liopilio, Mitopus, Odiellus, Oligolophus, Opilio, Paroligolophus, Phalangium, Rilaena (widespread)
- F. Sclerosomatidae – Eumesosoma, Hadrobunus, Leiobunum, Leuronychus, Nelima, Togwoteeus, Trachyrhinus (widespread)
- Metopilio Group – Dalquestia, Eurybunus, Globipes (sw US)
Key Resources:
Cokendolpher & Lee. 1993. Catalogue of Cyphophthalmi, Eupnoi & Dyspnoi for Greenland, Canada, U. S. A, and Mexico – The taxonomy is slightly outdated, but this remains a very important regional catalog
Crawford, RL, 1992. Catalogue of the genera and type species of the harvestman superfamily Phalangioidea (Arachnida). Burke Museum Contributions in Anthropology and Natural History, 8: 1-60.
A Learning Resource for North American Opiliones 