Chernetid Pseudoscorpions - Family: Chernetidae
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With 726 extant species in 119 genera the Chernetidae are by far the largest family in the Superfamily: Cheliferoidea. Yet, when first described as a family in 1855 by the German arachnologist and botanist, Franz Anton Menge (1808-1880) the name did not find much favour straight away. It was not until Chamberlin (1931) and Beier (1932) that the name and definition of the family became universally accepted. Over the years there have been numerous additions to the family and M.L.I. Judson (1985) determined that the Myrmochernetidae Chamberlin 1931 was synonymous with Chernetidae. The senior name prevailed and the Genus: Myrmochernes was transferred to Family: Chernetidae.
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The Chernetidae are a diverse family that is divided into three subfamilies and a large number of currently unplaced genera which bears testament to the fact that the relationships within the family are not at all clearly defined.
One of the three subfamilies, the Goniochernetinae, is endemic to Australia and, one of the three, the Lamprochernetinae, is absent altogether. To date only four species have been identified from the Northern Rivers region. That is four species out of well over seven hundred which is rather poor representation but, as always, more are likely to follow in due course. |
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The fossil record for the Chernetidae goes back to the Eocene, some 83.6-70.6 My ago. The oldest fossils were found in coal in Alberta, Canada. More recent fossils have been found in Baltic Amber from Poland (of the two species in the now extinct Genus: Oligochernes) and in Central and South America as well as the Dominican Republic. Fossils from the latter locations are much younger - no more than 38 My old - and are of genera still encountered today.
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Subfamily: Chernetinae
Tribe: Chernetini
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Austrochernes australiensis
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Haplochernes ramosus (possible occurrence)
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Nesidiochernes australicus
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Subfamily: Goniochernetinae
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Conicochernes brevispinosus (likely occurrence)
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Taxonomy:
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
> Subphylum: Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
> Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
> Order: Pseudoscorpiones (Pseudoscorpions)
> Suborder: Iocheirata
> Infraorder: Panctenata
> Zoosection: Elassommatina
> Superfamily: Cheliferoidea
> Family: Chernetidae (Chernetid Pseudoscorpions)
> Subfamily: Chernetinae
> Tribe: Chernetini
> Genus: Austrochernes
> Species: A. australiensis
> Genus: Haplochernes
> Species: H. ramosus ^
> Genus: Nesidiochernes
> Species: N. australicus
> Subfamily: Goniochernetinae
> Genus: Conicochernes
> Species: C. brevispinosus *
* = likely
^ = possibly
References and links:
> Beier, M., (1932). 'Pseudoscorpionidea II. Subord. C. Cheliferinea.' Tierreich 58: i-xxi, 1-294.
> Beier, M., (1948). 'Über Pseudoscorpione der australischen Region.' Eos, Madrid 24: 525–562.
> Judson, M.L.I., (1985). 'Rediscription of Myrmochernes Tullgren (Chelonetida: Chernetidae).' Bull.Br. Arachnol. Soc.: (1985) 6 (8), 321-327.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Menge
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/172612-Chernetidae
https://museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/pseudoscorpions/family/chernetidae
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-3691.html
https://www.mindat.org/paleo_strat.php?id=19975
> Beier, M., (1932). 'Pseudoscorpionidea II. Subord. C. Cheliferinea.' Tierreich 58: i-xxi, 1-294.
> Beier, M., (1948). 'Über Pseudoscorpione der australischen Region.' Eos, Madrid 24: 525–562.
> Judson, M.L.I., (1985). 'Rediscription of Myrmochernes Tullgren (Chelonetida: Chernetidae).' Bull.Br. Arachnol. Soc.: (1985) 6 (8), 321-327.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Menge
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/172612-Chernetidae
https://museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/pseudoscorpions/family/chernetidae
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-3691.html
https://www.mindat.org/paleo_strat.php?id=19975
Photographic contributions: