Conspecificity of semaphoronts – the synonymy of Metadiscocyrtus with Propachylus (Opiliones: Laniatores: Gonyleptidae)

The harvestman genus PropachylusRoewer, 1913 is herein revalidated from the synonymy of Discocyrtus Holmberg, 1878. Its type species, Propachylus singularisRoewer, 1913 has a convoluted taxonomic history, connected to Discocyrtus fornicatusSørensen, 1884 (currently known as Metadiscocyrtus fornicatus). The monotypic genus MetadiscocyrtusRoewer, 1929 is herein considered a junior subjective synonym of Propachylus. Propachylus singularis (known only from males) is herein considered a junior subjective synonym of M. fornicatus (Sørensen, 1884) (known only from a single female). Accordingly, this species is herein newly combined as Propachylus fornicatus (Sørensen, 1884) comb. nov. The males and females of this species are considered congeneric for the first time. As this species does not possess diagnostic characteristics of the concept of Pachylinae stricto sensu, it is here removed from Pachylinae but is left unplaced. The geographical distribution of this species is updated to the Brazilian state of Bahia.