Muma (1951) divided his newly erected genus Therobates Muma 1951 (now
recognized as a synonym of Eremochelis Roewer
1934) into
three species groups. One, the
branchi group was characterized a follows:
"Moderate-
to small-sized species. Males with mesal groove of fixed finger a deep
narrow slot containing no distinct carinae. Apical plumose bristles of
flagellum complex enlarged and flattened, covering part of the apical
portion of mesal groove. Ventral tubular bristles of complex grouped in
fondal notch. Known females have the opercula scalloped or lobate on
their ectal margins, adjacent on their mesal margins except for a small
triangular area near their posterior ends and elevated at the
postero-mesal angles. Ectal row of fondal teeth graded in size I, III,
II, IV; mesal row I, I, III, IV. In addition to the usual clothing the
metatarsi of the palpi are provided below with two unequal rows of stout
spines."
Muma (ibid) included in the branchi
group the following currently recognized species:
Eremochelis branchi
(Muma 1951), Eremochelis medialis
(Muma, 1951), Eremochelis morrisi (Muma 1951).
Eremochelis gertschi (Muma 1951),
Eremochelis iviei (Muma 1951),
Eremochelis malkini (Muma 1951),
Therobates cameronensis Muma 1951 (subsequently recognized as a
synonym of Eremochelis insignatus
Roewer 1934).
Muma (1962) later added Eremochelis coloradensis (Muma 1962)
and Eremochelis bidepressus (Muma 1951)
to the branchi group, and clarified the
inclusion of Eremochelis insignatus
Roewer 1934. Muma (1989) next added
Eremochelis bechteli Muma 1989,
Eremochelis flavus Muma 1989,
Eremochelis fuscellus Muma 1989,
Eremochelis saltoni Muma 1989,
Eremochelis tanneri Muma 1989,
and removed Eremochelis morrisi (Muma 1951)
(which he placed in the bilobatus
group), noting that the newly added species did not significantly alter the
group characters. Wtih the addition of
Eremochelis oregonensis (Brookhart
and Cushing, 2002) by Brookhart and Cushing (2002), the group attained its
current constituency:
Eremochelis bechteli Muma 1989
Eremochelis bidepressus (Muma 1951)
Eremochelis branchi
(Muma 1951)
Eremochelis coloradensis (Muma 1962)
Eremochelis flavus Muma 1989
Eremochelis fuscellus Muma 1989
Eremochelis gertschi (Muma 1951)
Eremochelis insignatus
Roewer 1934
Eremochelis iviei (Muma 1951)
Eremochelis malkini (Muma 1951)
Eremochelis medialis (Muma, 1951)
Eremochelis oregonensis
(Brookhart and Cushing, 2002)
Eremochelis saltoni Muma 1989
Eremochelis tanneri Muma 1989
