Pseudoscorpions of the World

Last updated: 19 January 2009

Version 1.2, 2009
Text Box: Atemnidae Text Catalogue Bochicidae Text Catalogue Cheiridiidae Text Catalogue Cheliferidae Text Catalogue Chernetidae Text Catalogue Chthoniidae Text Catalogue Dracochelidae Text Catalogue Feaellidae Text Catalogue Garypidae Text Catalogue Garypinidae Text Catalogue Geogarypidae Text Catalogue Gymnobisiidae Text Catalogue Hyidae Text Catalogue Ideoroncidae Text Catalogue Larcidae Text Catalogue Lechytiidae Text Catalogue Menthidae Text Catalogue Neobisiidae Text Catalogue Olpiidae Text Catalogue Parahyidae Text Catalogue Pseudochiridiidae Text Catalogue Pseudogarypidae Text Catalogue Sternophoridae Text Catalogue Syarinidae Text Catalogue Tridenchthoniidae Text Catalogue Withiidae Text Catalogue Text Box: Home Text Box: What are pseudoscorpions? Text Box: Phylogeny Text Box: Classification & list of families Text Box: Literature Text Box: List of genera, alphabetical Text Box: Numbers of Recent taxa Text Box: Fossils Text Box: Full classification Text Box: Nomina dubia & nomina nuda Text Box: Species by country

Family Cheiridiidae Hansen 1894

History

 

The Cheiridiinae were recognized by Hansen (1894) for the genus Cheiridium which he treated as a member of the Cheliferidae. This group was raised to family level by Chamberlin (1931) who included two subfamilies, Cheiridiinae and Pseudochiridiinae (which he spelt as Pseudocheiridiinae). The Pseudochiridiinae was segregated as a separate family by Hoff (1964). Beier (1964) created the subfamily Pycnocheiridiinae for the South African Pycnocheiridium mirum.

 

Composition

 

The Cheiridiidae contains two subfamilies, Cheridiinae with five genera and Pycnocheiridiinae with one genus, Pycnocheiridium.

 

Distribution

 

Many cheiridiid genera are widely distributed, with Cheiridium, Apocheiridium, Crytocheiridium and Neocheiridium known from multiple continents. Nesocheiridium and Pycnocheiridium are restricted to the western Pacific region and South Africa, respectively.

 

Important references

            

Benedict, E.M. (1978b). False scorpions of the genus Apocheiridium Chamberlin from western North America (Pseudoscorpionida, Cheiridiidae). Journal of Arachnology 5: 231-241.

Dumitresco, M. and Orghidan, T. (1981). Représentants de la fam. Cheiridiidae Chamberlin (Pseudoscorpionidea) de Cuba. In Résultats des Expéditions Biospéologiques Cubano-Roumaines à Cuba, vol. 3: 77-87. Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România: Bucaresti.

Mahnert, V. (1982b). Die Pseudoskorpione (Arachnida) Kenyas II. Feaellidae; Cheiridiidae. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 89: 115-134.

Vitali-di Castri, V. (1962). La familia Cheiridiidae (Pseudoscorpionida) en Chile. Investigaciones Zoológicas Chilenas 8: 119-142.

 
Text Box: Unidentified Cheiridiidae from Australia (Image: M. Harvey)