Two species of the genus Starengovia Snegovaya, 2010 from Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan are characterized; S. kirgizica Snegovaya, 2010 is redescribed and S. ivanloebli proposed as a new species. They belong to the easternmost representatives of the subfamily Nemastomatinae. Both species are separated by some 650 km in north to south direction; the Pakistan record extends nemastomatine distribution to the northwest of the Himalayas. Mediostoma pamiricumStaręga, 1986 probably belongs to Starengovia as well. Within Nemastomatinae Starengovia displays plesiomorphic characters (extremely short glans of penis, armed with inconspicuous robust spicules) and apomorphic ones (long, distinctly inflated base of penis; large lateral foliate wing-like structures on truncus penis). The foliate-wing character is unique among Nemastomatidae. Starengovia may represent a relict line in the early evolution of nemastomatine harvestmen.
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1 January 2020
On Starengovia Snegovaya, a genus of Asian nemastomatines (Arachnida: Opiliones: Nemastomatidae)
Jochen Martens