Taito is a genus of harvestmen in the family Cosmetidae. The genus is endemic to the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.[1][2]

Taito
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Opiliones
Family: Cosmetidae
Subfamily: Cosmetinae
Genus: Taito
Kury & Barros, 2014
Type species
Taito spaceinvaders
Kury & Barros, 2014
Species[1][2]

15, see text

Taxonomy

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The genus is named for the Japanese video game company Taito because the colorful body marks of the species in this genus resemble the aliens from their Space Invaders video game. The type species of the genus, Taito spaceinvaders, is named for the game as well. Another species is named for the similar 1981 game, Galaga.[1]

Some species in this genus were formerly placed in Cynortula, Eucynortella, and Cynorta; however, the general taxonomy of Cosmetidae is poorly known and so most genera are monotypic genera or wastebin taxa. These species were moved to Taito largely based on morphological evidence.[1]

Species

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There are currently 15 described species in Taito:[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Kury, Adriano B; Barros, Carla ML (2014-05-01). "A new genus and eight new species of Amazonian cosmetines (Opiliones, Laniatores, Cosmetidae)". Zoological Studies. 53 (1): 24. doi:10.1186/s40555-014-0024-4. ISSN 1810-522X.
  2. ^ a b c Friedrich, Stefan; Lehmann, Tobias (2020-01-28). "Taito adrik, a new harvestman species from the Área de Conservación Privada Panguana, Peruvian Amazonia (Opiliones: Laniatores: Cosmetidae)". Zootaxa. 4729 (1): 105–115. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4729.1.7. ISSN 1175-5334.