| abstract | This book includes a new family classification that divides the Cunaxidae into the following 9 subfamilies: Bonziinae, Coleoscirinae, Cunaxiinae, Cunaxoidinae, Denheyernaxoidinae, Neobonzinae, Orangescirulinae, Paracunaxoidinae, and Scirulinae. The Cunaxidae consists of 166 species, and descriptions and illustrations are provided for each. Thirty nine species are newly assigned to the family and are distributed among 17 genera of which 3 are newly erected. Three genera are placed in synonymy. Also, included are diagnosis of species, genera and subfamilies, key to subfamilies, genera, and species, as well as host and distribution data, and type depositions. Nine species synonymies and 18 new combinations are established. The genus Neoscirula is transferred to the subfamily Bonziinae.
The number of palpal segments, the kinds of palpal setae, and the kinds of setae on the anterior portion of the ventral hypostome serve as the main basis for separating the subfamilies, genera, and species.
Two monophyletic groups are recognized and their probable relationships within the family are presented in a dendrogram. The systematic relationship of the Cunaxidae in the superfamily Bdelloidea is discussed. New genera established are Denheyernaxoides, Neobonzia, and Paracunaxoides. |