Pseudoscorpions of the World

Last updated: 19 January 2009

Version 1.2, 2009
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Family Syarinidae Chamberlin 1930

History

 

The pseudoscorpions currently included in the Syarinidae have had a chequered history. They were first recognized by Chamberlin (1930) who included three genera, Syarinus and Hyarinus in the Syarininae, and Chitra in the Chitrinae. The latter was altered to Chitrellinae by Beier (1932) when the homonymous name Chitra was altered to Chitrella. Ideobisium and other ideobisiines were deemed to be confamilial with syarinines by Muchmore (1982). They had previously been considered members of the Neobisiidae. The subfamily Microcreagrellinae was created for Microcreagrella by Beier (1963), but this genus is most likely a member of the Chitrellinae.

 

The current classification of the family is derived from Muchmore (1982).

 

Harvey (1992) noted that the name Ideobisiinae, which was created by Banks (1895), has 35 years priority over Syarinidae but, in the interests of stability, refrained from altering the family name.

 

Composition

 

The family can be divided into three subfamilies, Syarininae (2 genera), Chitrellinae (8 genera) and Ideobisiinae (4 genera). The Microcreagrellinae are regarded as a synonym of Chitrellinae. The enigmatic genus Hyarinus from California cannot be satisfactorily placed into one of the existing subfamilies.

 

Distribution

 

Species of Syarininae occur in North America and Europe (Syarinus) and Tasmania (Anysrius); the Chitrellinae are found in North America and Europe; and the Ideobisiinae are largely cosmo-tropical. They are found in leaf litter and soil, as well as caves.

 

Important references

 

Harvey, M.S. (1998). Pseudoscorpion groups with bipolar distributions: a new genus from Tasmania related to the Holarctic Syarinus (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones, Syarinidae). Journal of Arachnology 26: 429-441.

 

Muchmore, W.B. (1982). The genera Ideobisium and Ideoblothrus, with remarks on the family Syarinidae (Pseudoscorpionida). Journal of Arachnology 10: 193-221.

Text Box: Anysrius chamberlini from Australia (specimen macerated) (Image: M. Harvey) Text Box: Chitrella cala from U.S.A. (Image: M. Harvey) Text Box: Ideobisium puertoricense from Puerto Rico (Image: M. Harvey)