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Pseudoscorpions of the World |
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Last updated: 19 January 2009 |
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Version 1.2, 2009 |
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Family Neobisiidae Chamberlin 1930 |
History
The Neobisiidae was named by Chamberlin (1930) when he replaced Obisium with Neobisium. The family has basically retained the same composition since then, although various genera have been removed, and numerous newly described genera have been proposed.
Composition
The family contains 32 genera, of which 20 are included in the Microcreagrinae and 12 in the Neobisiinae. These two subfamilies are separated purely on the morphology of the cheliceral flagellum, suggesting that the microcreagrines are paraphyletic. The family contains two of the largest pseudoscorpion genera, Neobisium with over 200 named species, and Roncus with over 120 named species. Distribution
The family is mostly distributed in the northern temperate regions of the world, although some species of Microbisium occur in tropical areas as far south as Zimbabwe in the Old World and the Caribbean in the New World. They are found in leaf litter and soil, under rocks, bark and in caves.
Important references
Beier, M. (1963b). Ordnung Pseudoscorpionidea (Afterskorpione). In Bestimmungsbücher zur Bodenfauna Europas, vol. 1. Akademie-Verlag: Berlin. Ćurčić, B.P.M. (1983a). A revision of some Asian species of Microcreagris Balzan, 1892 (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones). Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 6: 23-36. Ćurčić, B.P.M. (1984b). A revision of some North American species of Microcreagris Balzan, 1892 (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae). Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 6: 149-166. Heurtault, J. (1978a). Occitanobisium coiffaiti n. gen. n. sp. de Pseudoscorpions (Arachnides, Neobisiidae, Neobisiinae) du département de l'Hérault, France. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (3) 497(Zoologie 346): 1121-1134.
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