|
Pseudoscorpions of the World |
|
Last updated: 19 January 2009 |
|
Version 1.2, 2009 |
|
Family Olpiidae Banks 1985 |
History
The Olpiinae were created by Banks (1895), but this grouping was largely ignored until Chamberlin (1930) raised the group to family level and expanded the group to include the Garypininae. The tribe Hesperolpiini were added by Hoff (1964). Harvey (1992) was unable to demonstrate that the Olpiidae were monophyletic. The garypinines were removed from the Olpiidae by Judson (2005), leaving a more homogeneous assemblage of genera.
Composition
The family contains 33 genera and more than 250 species. They have been divided into two tribes, the Olpiini and the Hesperolpiini, but the relationships between these two groups are unclear. Distribution
Olpiids are found in most regions of the world, but are mostly found in xeric habitats. They occur under stones, in leaf litter and under bark of trees.
Important references
Heurtault, J. (1979c). Complément à la description de Olpium pallipes Lucas, 1845, type de la famille Olpiidae (Arachnides, Pseudoscorpions). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 86: 925-931.
|
