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Zoosection: Elassommatina
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The Elassommatina are a Zoosection or Microorder of pseudoscorpions in which the species have either two or no eyes and all legs have five post-coxal segments (with the tarsus undivided) (coxa = hip joint). Members of this group of organisms are found worldwide in all but the driest and coldest regions. The 'World Pseudoscorpion Catalogue' lists 1,524 species in seven families in three superfamilies - two of which are restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. The third superfamily, the Cheliferoidea enjoy a more cosmopolitan distribution.
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All of the four families from the Superfamily: Cheliferoidea are represented in the Northern Rivers region. However, so far these pages list only seven locally recorded species which is a paltry number considering the diversity among the Elassommatina overall.
The fossil record for the Cheliferoidea goes back to the Early Cretaceous, about 105 My ago and, whereas most fossils have been found in the Americas and in Baltic amber, they have also been found in 'Roxburgh amber' from in New Zealand. |
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Species from the two Zoosections, or Microorders, are as stated, difficult to tell apart. The Elassommatina however, generally have two eyes or, no eyes at all, and the arolium (= adhesive pad on the 'feet') tends to be shorter than the claws.
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Superfamily: Cheliferoidea
References and links:
> Comstock, J.H., (1913). 'The Spider Book.' Doubleday, Page and Co. Garden City, New York.
> Harvey, M.S., (1992.) 'The phylogeny and classification of the Pseudoscorpionida (Chelicerata: Arachnida).' Invertebrate Systematics, 6 (6), 1373 – 1435.
> Muchmore, W.B., (1982). ‘Pseudoscorpionida.’ in: Parker, S.P. (ed.). ‘Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms.’ Volume 2, pp. 96-102. McGraw-Hill, New York.
> Schmidt, A., Kaulfuss, U., Bannister, J.M., Baranov, V., Beimforde, C. et al. (2018). ‘ Amber inclusions from New Zealand.’ Gondwana Research, 2018, 56, pp.135-146. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2017.12.003ff. insu-01674519f
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-P271431.html
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-2126839.html
https://wac.nmbe.ch/order/pseudoscorpiones/3
> Comstock, J.H., (1913). 'The Spider Book.' Doubleday, Page and Co. Garden City, New York.
> Harvey, M.S., (1992.) 'The phylogeny and classification of the Pseudoscorpionida (Chelicerata: Arachnida).' Invertebrate Systematics, 6 (6), 1373 – 1435.
> Muchmore, W.B., (1982). ‘Pseudoscorpionida.’ in: Parker, S.P. (ed.). ‘Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms.’ Volume 2, pp. 96-102. McGraw-Hill, New York.
> Schmidt, A., Kaulfuss, U., Bannister, J.M., Baranov, V., Beimforde, C. et al. (2018). ‘ Amber inclusions from New Zealand.’ Gondwana Research, 2018, 56, pp.135-146. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2017.12.003ff. insu-01674519f
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-P271431.html
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-2126839.html
https://wac.nmbe.ch/order/pseudoscorpiones/3
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