Chthoniid Pseudoscorpions - Family: Chthoniidae
|
The family with the most speciose diversity, the Chthoniidae, are represented in the Northern Rivers region by up to five species so far. All of the five are species within the Subfamily: Chthoniinae. In general, Chthoniids may be found in soil, under leaf litter, bark or rocks although there are also a number of troglobitic species found around the world.
Colours vary from pale ochres to reddish and dark browns. In many species the claws on the end of the pedipalps are long and thin whereas the chelicerae and fangs can be quite robust. |
The Chtoniidae started out as a subfamily, so named in 1888 by
Dr. Eugen von Daday, a Romanian Professor of Zoology specialising in aquatic invertebrates, particularly crustaceans within what was at the time the Hungarian Empire. In 1894 the Danish zoologist Hans Jacob Hansen elevated them to the status of family. A number of changes have been made over the years but the current definition of the family is largely based on that of J.C. Chamberlin (1931). Since Harvey (1992) they are placed as a family in the Suborder: Epiocheirata. |
|
The fossil record for Chthoniidae goes back as far as the Late Cretaceous with remains of a new species of the extinct Genus: Weygoldtiella found in Burmese amber dated at around 99.6 - 93.5 My old. Most fossils are much younger however and are from the Miocene and Eocene eras, 23 and 38 Mya respectively. Fossil distribution is largely in line with current distribution patterns although none have sofar surfaced from Australia.
|
Subfamily: Chthoniinae
|
Austrochthonius australis
|
|
Lagynochthonius mordor (possible occurrence)
|
|
Sartrochthonius tuena (possible occurrence)
|
|
Sartrochthonius webbi (likely occurrence)
|
|
Tyrannochthonius queenslandicus (possible occurrence)
|
Taxonomy:
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
> Subphylum: Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
> Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
> Order: Pseudoscorpiones (Pseudoscorpions)
> Suborder: Epiocheirata
> Superfamily: Chthonioidea
> Family: Chthoniidae (Chthoniid Pseudoscorpions)
> Subfamily: Chthoniinae
> Genus: Austrochthonius
> Species: A. australis
> Genus: Lagynochthonius
> Species: L. mordor ^
> Genus: Sartrochthonius
> Species: S. tuena ^
> Species: S. webbi *
> Genus: Tyrannochthonius
> Species: T. queenslandicus ^
* = likely
^ = possibly
References and links:
> Harvey M.S., Cosgrove J.G. et al, (2018). 'The oldest chthonioid pseudoscorpion Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Chthonioidea: Chthoniidae: A new genus and species from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.' Zoologischer Anzeiger 273, 102-111
> Harvey, M.S., (1992). 'The phylogeny and classification of the Pseudoscorpionida (Chelicerata: Arachnida).' Invertebrate Systematics, 6 (6), 1373 – 1435
> Harvey, M.S., (2011). 'Pseudoscorpions of the World, version 2.' Western Australian Museum, Perth. http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/pseudoscorpions
https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.J._Hansen_(zoolog)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Conrad_Chamberlin
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-7652.html
https://museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/pseudoscorpions/family/chthoniidae
https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_von_Daday
> Harvey M.S., Cosgrove J.G. et al, (2018). 'The oldest chthonioid pseudoscorpion Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Chthonioidea: Chthoniidae: A new genus and species from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.' Zoologischer Anzeiger 273, 102-111
> Harvey, M.S., (1992). 'The phylogeny and classification of the Pseudoscorpionida (Chelicerata: Arachnida).' Invertebrate Systematics, 6 (6), 1373 – 1435
> Harvey, M.S., (2011). 'Pseudoscorpions of the World, version 2.' Western Australian Museum, Perth. http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/pseudoscorpions
https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.J._Hansen_(zoolog)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Conrad_Chamberlin
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-7652.html
https://museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/pseudoscorpions/family/chthoniidae
https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_von_Daday
Photographic contributions: