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A new genus of pseudoscorpions of the family Chernetidae, Austinochernes, is described for two new Australian species, A. andrewaustini (type species) from South Australia and Victoria, and A. zigzag from Tasmania. They are most similar to species of the Neotropical genus PseudopilanusBeier, 1957 in the possession of a spine-like seta on the prolateral face of the chelal hand at the base of the fingers, but differ by the presence of acuminate setae on the male pedipalpal trochanter. The suspected relationship between Austinochernes and Pseudopilanus suggests that their distribution is the result of Gondwanan vicariance.

Genus-group names for animals established after 1930 must, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, be accompanied by the designation of a valid type species. We have found several genus-group names of Arachnida described after 1930 that were not validly formed and, while the type species were subsequently designated in mainstream taxonomic literature, including taxonomic revisions and catalogues, others were found to have been designated in the Zoological Record. The following names are determined to have a change of authorship: GlobochthoniusFinnegan, 1932 (not Beier, 1931), HeoblothrusBrowning, 1965 (not Beier, 1963), HesperochthoniusBrowning, 1970 (not Muchmore, 1968), TetrafeaellaMurthy & Ananthakrishnan, 1977 (not Beier, 1955) and ToxochernesFinnegan, 1934 (not Beier, 1932) (Pseudoscorpiones), RhinokarschiaHarvey, 2003 (not Birula, 1935) (Solifugae) and GinosigmaWhittick, 1937 (not Speijer, 1933) (Uropygi). Argentochernes (Pseudoscorpiones), Arenotherus, and Daesiella (Solifugae) are deemed to be nomina nuda. In addition, the type species of the following genus-group names are found to be different from conventional treatments: Chthonius (Globochthonius) histricusBeier, 1931 for Globochthonius; Chthonius (Hesperochthonius) oregonicusMuchmore, 1968 for Hesperochthonius; Feaella indica Chamberlin, 1931 for Tetrafeaella; and Allochernes (Toxochernes) similis Beier, 1932 for Toxochernes. The change in type species for Toxochernes results in its synonymy with Chernes (new synonymy), rather than with Allochernes.

The open-holed trapdoor spider genus Aname L. Koch is widely distributed across mainland Australia and Tasmania, and currently includes 34 named species. Many species are poorly known, and their descriptions based on female type material only render their identification difficult, as the best taxonomic characters are usually found on the adult male pedipalp and first leg. To better understand the diversity of Aname in Western Australia, we present descriptions of 11 new species primarily distributed in arid ecosystems: A. baileyorum sp. nov., A. frostorum sp. nov., A. grothi sp. nov., A. lorica sp. nov., A. mcalpinei sp. nov., A. munyardae sp. nov., A. nitidimarina sp. nov., A. sinuata sp. nov., A. vernonorum sp. nov., A. watsoni sp. nov. and A. whitei sp. nov. All species are described from adult males but we were only able to confidently associate females of A. lorica, A. sinuata, A. watsoni and A. whitei. DNA sequence data were obtained for six species and were used to test morphological species hypotheses and where possible to match females and juveniles with males. Haplotype networks for A. lorica, A. sinuata and A. whitei, demonstrate that there is significant genetic structure within these species, corresponding to geographically isolated populations. We also provide the first sequence data for specimens of Aname mainaeRaven, 2000 collected from near the type locality in South Australia.

The aganippine shield-backed trapdoor spiders of the monophyleticnigrum-group ofIdiosomaAusserers. l.are revised, and 15 new species are described from Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia:I.arenaceumRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.corrugatumRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.clypeatumRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.dandaraganRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.formosumRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.gardneriRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.gutharukaRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.incomptumRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.intermediumRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.jarrahRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.kopejtkaorumRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.kwonganRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.mcclementsorumRix & Harvey,sp. n.,I.mcnamaraiRix & Harvey,sp. n., andI.schoknechtorumRix & Harvey,sp. n.Two previously described species from south-western Western Australia,I.nigrumMain, 1952 andI.sigillatum(O. P.-Cambridge, 1870), are re-illustrated and re-diagnosed, and complementary molecular data for 14 species and seven genes are analysed with Bayesian methods. Members of thenigrum-group are of long-standing conservation significance, andI.nigrumis the only spider in Australia to be afforded threatened species status under both State and Commonwealth legislation. Two other species,I.formosumRix & Harvey,sp. n.andI.kopejtkaorumRix & Harvey,sp. n., are also formally listed as Endangered under Western Australian State legislation. Here we significantly relimitI.nigrumto include only those populations from the central and central-western Wheatbelt bioregion, and further document the known diversity and conservation status of all known species.

Pseudoscorpions have a sparse fossil record although they are among the oldest terrestrial lineages with origins that go back to the Devonian (ca. 385 Ma). Amongst the 25 extant families of pseudoscorpions, only 14 are known from fossils, most of which are preserved in European ambers from the Eocene. Burmese amber from the Cenomanian (mid-Cretaceous) of northern Myanmar is an important source of Mesozoic pseudoscorpion fossils but only six species have been described from this amber to date. In this paper, we establish the first fossil record for the pseudoscorpion family Ideoroncidae Chamberlin, 1930, which is coequally the oldest record of the pseudoscorpion superfamily Neobisioidea. The new genus Proalbiorix is established for the two species P. gracilis sp. nov. and P. compactus sp. nov. which already show all diagnostic features of members belonging to this family to date. Interestingly, Proalbiorix shows morphological features that align the fossils with present-day fauna from the Americas and Africa rather than Asia, which has biogeographical implications. Overall, the description provides another example of relative morphological stasis of pseudoscorpions compared to other arachnid lineages such as spiders, and that all major clades of pseudoscorpions were established long before the Cretaceous.

Pseudoscorpions are an ancient lineage of arachnids but have a scarce fossil record, presumably because these animals are small (2–8 mm in body length) and live in habitats where they do not fossilize easily. This is particularly the case for one of the more basal lineages, the superfamily Chthonioidea, which are common and diverse in leaf litter habitats across the world but have only been described in the fossil record from some specimens in Baltic, Dominican and Chiapas ambers. Here, we describe and illustrate the oldest pseudoscorpion of the superfamily Chthonioidea from the mid-Cretaceous (lowermost Cenomanian, ca. 99 Mya) amber of northern Myanmar and extend the known fossil record of this diverse superfamily from the Eocene into the Cretaceous. Fragments that suggest a diverse pseudoscorpion fauna have been recorded in Myanmar (Burmese) amber but this is only the fourth pseudoscorpion fossil described from this ancient amber type. The single adult female specimen is substantially older than the next oldest fossil chthonioids, which were described from Baltic amber (ca. 44–49 Mya), and displays small but significant differences to other chthonioids, such that we describe a new genus and species, Weygoldtiella plausus gen. et sp. nov. The placement of the trichobothria on the chelal hand suggests it can be attributed to the family Chthoniidae, but important morphological features are obscured in the fossil which obfuscates hypotheses regarding its nearest relatives. The specimen, although imperfectly preserved, has no known Recent relatives in this area or elsewhere in the diverse chthonioid fauna, and may represent an extinct lineage. Overall, this fossil is another example of the diverse arachnid community preserved in Burmese amber that includes lineages that are now extinct here and of considerable biogeographic interest, e.g. ricinuleids, and fauna which is essentially modern, e.g. solifuges.

Two new cave-dwelling species of the feaellid genus Cybella Judson, C. gelanggi sp. nov. and C. weygoldti sp. nov., are described from caves in Malaysia. Like other species of the genus from Vietnam and Cambodia, they possess the unusual morphology of the coxal region in which coxa III is reduced in size, and they lack well-developed plates within the pleural abdominal membrane. The first females of the genus Cybella are described.

Smith, Helen M., Harvey, Mark S., Agnarsson, Ingi, Anderson, Gregory J. (2017): Notes on the Ant-mimic Genus Anatea Berland (Araneae: Theridiidae) and Two New Species from Tropical Australia. Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 69 (1): 1-13, DOI: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1672, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1672

The pseudoscorpion genus Haplochernes Beier, 1932, is redescribed and restricted to those species of Chernetidae with only four setae on the cheliceral hand and a pair of moderately long, slender spermathecae. This new definition is shared by only two species: the type species H. boncicus (Karsch, 1881) from Japan and possibly Taiwan and H. wuzhiensis Gao and Zhang sp. nov. from Hainan Island, China. Haplochernes madagascariensis Beier, 1932 from Madagascar and H. hagai Morikawa, 1953 from Japan are treated as new synonyms of H. boncicus.

The open-holed trapdoor spiders of the genus Teyl Main, 1975 from the Pilbara bioregion of Western Australia are investigated. A single endemic species from the southern Pilbara, T. heuretes sp. nov., is newly described, representing the northern-most occurrence of the genus in Australia. Legacy molecular data for Australian Nemesiidae, along with newly generated sequences for all described species of Teyl known from Western Australia, are analysed using Maximum Likelihood methods, providing molecular data for T. heuretes and an expanded phylogenetic assessment of the genus.

The species of the millipede genus Antichiropus Attems, 1911 found in the Pilbara region of Western Australia are reviewed, and 33 new species are described. The new species are: A. anguinus Car, n. sp., A. antius Car, n. sp., A. apricus Car, n. sp., A. cirratus Car, n. sp., A. confragus Car, n. sp., A. cristatus Car, n. sp., A. cucumeraceous Car, n. sp., A. cunicularis Car, n. sp, A. echinus Car, n. sp., A. filiolus Car, n. sp., A. forcipatus Car, n. sp., A. georginae Car, n. sp., A. gibbus Car, n. sp., A. hystricosus Car, n. sp., A. julianneae Car, n. sp., A. literulus Car, n. sp., A. lucyae Car, n. sp., A. nicholasi Car, n. sp., A. nimbus Car, n. sp., A. patriciae Car, n. sp., A. pendiculus Car, n. sp., A. picus Car, n. sp., A. procerus Car, n. sp., A. quaestionis Car, n. sp., A. rupinus Car, n. sp., A. salutus Car, n. sp., A. servulus Car, n. sp., A. simmonsi Car, n. sp., A. sloanae Car, n. sp., A. spathion Car, n. sp., A. uvulus Car, n. sp., A. verutus Car, n. sp. and A. vindicatus Car, n. sp.. The number of described Antichiropus species now stands at 72. Two species (A. julianneae Car, n. sp. and A. pendiculus Car, n. sp.) lack one diagnostic feature of the genus, namely a solenomere process, but are included here because they conform to the genus definition in all other characters. We also obtained sequence data from four mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 [COI], cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 [COIII], cytochrome B [CytB], and 12S rRNA [12S]), and one nuclear gene (28S rRNA [28S]) for 19 species. Three main clades were recovered: one in the northern Pilbara, one in the southern Pilbara, and one just outside the south-western margin of the Pilbara.

A review of the pseudoscorpion family Ideoroncidae in the Asian region reveals three genera: Dhanus Chamberlin, 1930, Shravana Chamberlin, 1930 and a new genus. Dhanus includes four species, D. sumatranus (Redikorzev, 1922), D. hashimi sp. nov. and D. tioman sp. nov. from Malaysia, and D. lunaris sp. nov. from Cambodia. Dhanus doveri Bristowe, 1952 is newly synonymized with D. sumatranus, and the type locality of D. sumatranus is confirmed as the Dark Cave, in the Batu Cave system, near Kuala Lumpur. Shravana is confirmed as a senior synonym of Nhatrangia Redikorzev, 1938 and includes 13 species: S. laminata (With, 1906) and S. schwendingeri sp. nov., from Thailand, S. charas sp. nov. and S. withi sp. nov. from Malaysia, S. dawydoffi (Redikorzev, 1938), comb. nov. (transferred from Nhatrangia) from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the Spratly Islands, S. indica (Murthy & Ananthakrishnan, 1977), comb. nov. (transferred from Dhanus) from India, S. ceylonensis (Mahnert, 1984), comb. nov. (transferred fro...

The pseudoscorpion genus Synsphyronus is widely distributed in the Australasian region, with 30 species described from Australia and two from New Zealand. This paper describes the first species to be recorded from New Caledonia: S. platnickisp. nov. Two of the three nymphal stages, tritonymph and protonymph, are described, as well as the adults.

The pseudoscorpion genus Verrucachernes Chamberlin, 1947 is widely distributed in the Old World tropics, with three named Australasian and West Pacific species and two from Africa. A review of some pseudoscorpions described from India has revealed that Withius parvus Beier, 1930 (currently in the genus Metawithius) and Pselaphochernes indicus Beier, 1974 are misplaced and actually belong to the genus Verrucachernes Chamberlin, 1947, forming the new combinations V. parvus (Beier, 1930) comb. nov. and V. indicus (Beier, 1974) comb. nov., respectively. Both species possess the single, large, rounded spermatheca and other features typical of Verrucachernes.

A combined molecular and morphological approach was used to revise the Australian spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Blakistonia Hogg. Where possible, our molecular approach used sequence data from the COI barcoding gene, which were analysed using Bayesian, RAxML and neighbour-joining approaches. These molecular data were combined with morphology to describe and diagnose the genus, to redescribe the type (and only previously valid) species, B. aurea Hogg, 1902, and to diagnose, describe and map 19 new species: B. bassi sp. n., B. bella sp. n., B. birksi sp. n., B. carnarvon sp. n., B. emmottiorum sp. n., B. gemmelli sp. n., B. hortoni sp. n., B. mainae sp. n., B. maryae sp. n., B. newtoni sp. n., B. nullarborensis sp. n., B. olea sp. n., B. parva sp. n., B. pidax sp. n., B. plata sp. n., B. raveni sp. n., B. tariae sp. n., B. tunstilli sp. n., and B. wingellina sp. n. The genus Blakistonia is found to be distributed throughout the Australian arid and semi-arid zones, from the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia to central Queensland and western Victoria.

Amber is nearly ubiquitous in lignites from Otago and Southland and cornmon throughout New Zealand; however, no amber inclusions have been reported previously. We studied amber from 22 Cretaceous to Miocene sites in southem New Zealand, recovering inclusions at three localities: Cosy Dell (late Oligocene), Roxburgh (early Miocene), and Hyde (?early Miocene). Preparation of New Zealand amber to expose inclusions for study under incident and transmitted light is challenging and time-consuming, with most samples brittle and opaque. Thus, we stabilize and clear the amber lumps using epoxy preparation under vacuum before grinding and imaging under light microscopy. To date we have recovered 63 arthropods, as weIl as plant remains, fungi, and nematodes. Arachnids include diverse mites (Mesostigmata, Oribatida, Astigmata, and Prostigmata), a variety of spiders and web remains with prey, and a pseudoscorpion. Sorne Collembola were identified as belonging to the family Entomobryidae (Entomobryomorpha). Insects include members of the families Dermestidae (Coleoptera), Mymaridae and Scelionidae (Hymenoptera), Veliidae (Heteroptera), Ceratopogonidae (Forcipomyia) and Mycetophilidae (Diptera), as well as Psocoptera, and Lepidoptera. The most abundant fungi in New Zealand amber are hyphomycetes similar to the genus Casparyotorula from European Palaeogene ambers and we discovered similar fungi growing on resin of the extant Agathis australis, the iconic New Zealand Kauri. Furthermore, specimens of the genus Metacapnodium (Capnodiales) represent the first Southem Hemisphere fossil sooty moulds; saprophytic ascomycetes with brown hyphae, often forming extensive subicula on living plant surfaces. These fungi are ubiquitous and diverse in New Zealand today. Many of these new amber fossils represent groups with an otherwise poor fossil record for the entire Southem Hemisphere. The systematic and ecological diversity of the inclusions highlights the potential of New Zealand amber for reconstructing past terres trial ecosystems of Zealandia, one of the biogeographically crucial former Gondwanan landmasses.

A new genus of oonopid spider, Sicariomorpha Ott and Harvey, is named for the type and only known species, Gamasomorpha maschwitzi Wunderlich from Malaysia. The most striking feature of the spider is the eyes, which are arranged in two widely separated triads. Besides taxonomic description, we summarize the biology of Sicarimorpha maschwitzi, which is a kleptoparasite of the Southeast Asian army ant Leptogenys distinguenda (Emery) and one among only few well-studied myrmecophilous spiders. Its morphology, behavior and life history seem to be well adapted for the life with its predatory army ant host.

The Nannowithius group of the pseudoscorpion family Withiidae is newly defined, consisting of Nannowithius Beier, 1932 from northern Africa and the Middle East, and Termitowithius Muchmore, 1990 from east Africa. The group is characterized by the lack of a tactile seta on the posterior tarsi, and they are the only withiids to possess this character state. Both genera are associated as inquilines with social insects, Nannowithius with ants and Termitowithius with termites. Withius caecus Beier, 1929 and Plesiowithius dekeyseri Vachon, 1954 are redescribed and transferred to the genus Nannowithius, forming the new combinations N. caecus (Beier) and N. dekeyseri (Vachon). Plesiowithius is treated as a new synonym of Nannowithius. A revised description and new illustrations of Termitowithius kistneri Muchmore, 1990 are presented.

Pseudoscorpions of the family Withiidae are distributed in most regions of the world, but are less common in the Australian region. Apart from the cosmopolitan genus Withius Kew, 1911, the fauna is dominated by the endemic genera Metawithius Chamberlin, 1931 and Hyperwithius Beier, 1951. A review of material of both genera reveals that Metawithius is a senior synonym of Hyperwithius, and is defined by the presence of a patch of rugose cuticle on the internal surface of the male maxilla. The genus contains the following taxa: M. murrayi (Pocock, 1900), M. philippinus Beier, 1937, M. spiniventer Redikorzev, 1938, M. spiniventer pauper Beier, 1953, three species newly transferred from Hyperwithius to Metawithius, M. annamensis (Redikorzev, 1938), comb. nov., M. tonkinensis (Beier, 1951), comb. nov. and M. dawydoffi (Beier, 1951), comb. nov., and M. nepalensis (Beier, 1974) which is newly transferred from Withius. The remaining species previously attributed to Metawithius are transferred to other gen...

The trapdoor spider genus Moggridgea O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875 is widespread across the Afrotropical region, with a further two species recorded from southern Australia. One of these Australian species, M. tingle Main, 1991 from south-western Australia, has recently been transferred to a separate genus, along with six additional new species. However, consistent with previous research, we find that M. australis Main, 1991 from Kangaroo Island, South Australia, is not congeneric with the south-western Australian taxa, and appears to be a valid member of the otherwise African genus Moggridgea. This suggests a potential case of trans-oceanic dispersal, which would be remarkable for a mygalomorph spider. We redescribe this species based on newly collected specimens, and find that Aganippe rainbowi Pulleine, 1919, also from Kangaroo Island, is conspecific with M. australis and is the senior synonym, forming the new combination, M. rainbowi (Pulleine, 1919). We further discuss the ecology and biogeography of the species, and highlight avenues for future research.

Two new pseudoscorpion species, Geogarypus muchmorei sp. nov. from India and G. klarae sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea, are described and illustrated. New data for G. sagittatus Beier, 1965 are reported and a supplementary description is given, based on a new specimen. New occurrences of G. longidigitatus (Rainbow, 1897) are recorded from Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka.

Compared with araneomorph spiders, relatively few mygalomorph spiders have evolved an obligate existence in subterranean habitats. The trapdoor spider genus Troglodiplura Main, 1969 and its sole named species T. lowryi Main, 1969 is endemic to caves on the Nullarbor Plain of southern Australia, and is one of the world’s most troglomorphic mygalomorph spiders. However, its systematic position has proved to be difficult to ascertain, largely due to a lack of preserved adults, with all museum specimens represented only by cuticular fragments, degraded specimens or preserved juveniles. The systematic placement of Troglodiplura has changed since it was first described as a member of the Dipluridae, with later attribution to Nemesiidae and then back to Dipluridae. The most recent hypothesis specifically allied Troglodiplura with the Neotropical subfamily Diplurinae, and therefore was assumed to have no close living relatives in Australia. We obtained mitochondrial sequence data from one specimen of Troglodiplura to test these two competing hypotheses, and found that Troglodiplura is a member of the family Anamidae (which was recently separated from the Nemesiidae). We also reassess the morphology of the cuticular fragments of specimens from several different caves, and hypothesise that along with T. lowryi there are four new troglobitic species, here named T. beirutpakbarai Harvey & Rix, T. challeni Harvey & Rix, T. harrisi Harvey & Rix, and T. samankunani Harvey & Rix, each of which is restricted to a single cave system and therefore severely threatened by changing environmental conditions within the caves. The first descriptions and illustrations of the female spermathecae of Troglodiplura are provided. The family Anamidae is further divided into two subfamilies, with the Anaminae Simon containing Aname L. Koch, 1873, Hesperonatalius Castalanelli, Huey, Hillyer & Harvey, 2017, Kwonkan Main, 1983, Swolnpes Main & Framenau, 2009 and Troglodiplura, and the Teylinae Main including Chenistonia Hogg, 1901, Namea Raven, 1984, Proshermacha Simon, 1909, Teyl Main, 1975 and Teyloides Main, 1985. ZooBank Registration: http://zoobank.org/References/2BE2B429-0998-4AFE-9381-B30BDC391E9C

The pseudoscorpions of the genus Garypus L. Koch are restricted to seashore habitats where they occupy supralittoral and littoral zones primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. Few species have been recorded from the Indo-West Pacific region, and this project was devised to produce a review of the species found in museum collections and to test the relationships of the various garypid genera using a molecular analysis and an assessment of their morphology. A new subfamily classification is proposed with the subfamilies Garypinae, including Garypus and the new genus Anchigarypus Harvey (type species Garypus californicus Banks), and the Synsphyroninae for the other genera (Ammogarypus Beier, Anagarypus Chamberlin, Elattogarypus Beier, Eremogarypus Beier, Meiogarypus Beier, Neogarypus Vachon, Paragarypus Vachon, Neogarypus Vachon, Synsphyronus Chamberlin, and Thaumastogarypus Beier). The species-level revision of Garypus provides evidence for at least 14 species, most of which are known from only single localities. The following species are redescribed: G. insularis Tullgren from the Seychelles, G. krusadiensis Murthy & Ananthakrishnan from India and Sri Lanka, G. longidigitus Hoff from Queensland, Australia, G. maldivensis Pocock from the Maldives, G. nicobarensis Beier from the Nicobar Islands and G. ornatus Beier from the Marshall Islands. The holotype of G. insularis is a tritonymph, and not therefore readily identifiable. Nine new species are described: G. latens Harvey, sp. nov., G. malgaryungu Harvey, sp. nov., G. necopinus Harvey, sp. nov., G. postlei Harvey, sp. nov., G. ranalliorum Harvey, sp. nov. and G. weipa Harvey, sp. nov. from northern Australia, G. dissitus Harvey, sp. nov. from Cocos-Keeling Island, G. reong Harvey, sp. nov. and G. yeni Harvey, sp. nov. from Indonesia. A further possible new species from Queensland is described but not named, as it is represented by a single tritonymph. The subspecies of the Caribbean species G. bonairensis Beier are elevated to full species status: G. bonairensis, G. realini Hummelinck and G. withi Hoff. We supplement the descriptions with sequence data from five specimens from four species of Garypus and two species of Anchigarypus, and find COI divergence levels of 7–19% between Garypus species. http://zoobank.org/References/16463E29-6F13-4392-9E41-46A4312C852B

The first blind African species of Ideoroncidae is described from a cave in northwestern Botswana, Botswanoncus ellisi, representing a new genus and a new species. Apart from the complete lack of eyes, it is also unusual in having the lowest recorded number of trichobothria of any adult ideoroncid with 17 on the fixed finger and nine on the movable finger.

The taxonomy of the cheliferid pseudoscorpion genus Chelifer Geoffroy 1762 is reviewed with a single cosmopolitan species, Chelifer cancroides (Linnaeus 1758), with the subspecies C. cancroides orientalis Morikawa 1954 from Japan newly synonymised with C. cancroides. Adults and the final two nymphal stages (tritonymph and deutonymph) are redescribed based on numerous specimens from Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia. The large size variation evident in the samples is documented. The latero-ventral process of the tarsal claws characteristically found in adults (except leg I of the male) is lacking in nymphs, a pattern that is also confirmed in the genera Lissochelifer Chamberlin 1932, Lophochernes Simon 1878 and Parachelifer Chamberlin 1932.

The pseudoscorpion genus IndogarypusBeier, 1957 is reviewed and its characters are discussed. Based on the review of these characteristics Indogarypus is synonymized with Geogarypus Chamberlin, 1930. New descriptions of Geogarypus indicus (Beier, 1930), G. ceylonicusBeier, 1973 and G. nepalensis Beier, 1974 are provided.

The ‘white-headed’ spiny trapdoor spiders of the Euoplos mcmillani-group are revised, and three new species are described from the biodiversity hotspot of south-western Western Australia: E. cornishi sp. nov., E. kalbarri sp. nov. and E. saplan sp. nov. Two previously described species, E. ballidu (Main, 2000) and E. mcmillani (Main, 2000), are further re-described and re-diagnosed. The mcmillani-group of Euoplos are remarkable for the unique ‘bright white’ carapace coloration of males, and we here document the known diversity and conservation status of these rare and enigmatic spiders.

A new species of the pseudoscorpion genus Metawithius Chamberlin, 1931 is described from Kerala, India. Detailed morphological descriptions, diagnostic features and illustrations of Metawithius keralensis Johnson, Mathew, Sebastian & Joseph, sp. nov. are provided. Detailed redescription and illustrations of M. nepalensis (Beier, 1974) are also provided. The current distribution of all the known Metawithius species is mapped. Metawithius parvus (Beier, 1930) from Travancore, India is recognised as a species of Chernetidae.

The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.5 of the Code, is to conserve the specific name Phrynus mexicanus Poinar & Brown, 2004 which was proposed for a fossil whip spider (Arachnida, Amblypygi, phrynidae) preserved in Chiapas (Mexican) amber. This fossil species was initially described under the grammatically erroneous combination Phrynus mexicana. However, correcting the species epithet to mexicanus renders it a junior primary homonym of a Recent Mexican whip spider, Phrynus mexicanus Bilimek, 1867. The Recent species was subsequently transferred to the genus Paraphrynus Moreno, 1940, to give the current combination Paraphyrnus mexicanus (Bilimek, 1867), and neither species has ever been considered congeneric with the other.

A review of the pseudoscorpion family Ideoroncidae in North and South America has revealed seven genera and 43 species. The genus Albiorix occurs in xeric environments in western USA and in Mexico, with two outlying species in Chile and Argentina. It includes 18 species, including five new species from Mexico (A. meraculus, A. minor, A. oaxaca, A. puebla and A. rosario), and three from USA (A. gertschi, A. sarahae and A. vigintus). Albiorix bolivari is treated as a junior synonym of A. retrodentatus. The genus Ideoroncus has nine species and is endemic to southern Brazil and Paraguay. Pseudalbiorix has four species and occurs in Central America and western Cuba. Typhloroncus has six species from Mexico and U.S. Virgin Islands, including the new species T. planodentatus from Mexico. Xorilbia has three species and occurs in the Amazonian rainforest ecosystems of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela. Two new genera are described: Mahnertius Harvey & Muchmore for the new species M. stipodentatus (t...

The first species of the goblin spider genus Camptoscaphiella Caporiacco from New Caledonia are recorded and described. C. monteithi new species was found on the summit of Mt Rembai, and C. potteri new species was found on Mt Mandjelia, suggesting that they are high-altitude specialists.

A taxonomic review of the endemic Western Australian millipede genus Boreohesperus Shear is presented in which six species are recognized: the type species, Boreohesperus capensis Shear, 1992, from North-West Cape, one new species, Boreohesperus dubitalis, from Barrow Island and four more new species from the Pilbara region, Boreohesperus curiosus, Boreohesperus delicatus, Boreohesperus furcosus and Boreohesperus undulatus. All six species have highly localized distributions, consistent with being short-range endemics. The nomenclature of the branches of the male gonopod is revised.

A study of the free-living developmental stages ofDactylochelifer gracilisBeier, 1951, is presented based on 68 specimens of all nymphal and adult stages, collected from two locations in Iran. Basic differences of all stages are characterized by size, pedipalpal ratios, and the addition of trichobothria and setae during development.

Most species of the Old World pseudoscorpion genus Megachernes are associated with mammals, either within their nests or in their pelage, whereas others are found in cave systems, usually in bat guano. The first Sri Lankan species of the genus, Megachernes kanneliyensis, is described from the fur of an endemic, threatened Sri Lankan mouse, Mus mayori pococki from the Kanneliya rainforest. The species is compared with other species of the genus. Host associations of all named and several unnamed species of Megachernes are reviewed, with two main habitat types, those found in mammal nests and in their pelage, and those found in bat guano. Based on similarities with Megachernes, Chiridiochernes is transferred to Lamprochernetinae as the spermathecae are T-shaped, the sole diagnostic feature of the subfamily.

We present the karyotype of the Australian harvestman Austropurcellia arcticosa (Cantrell, 1980) (Arachnida:Opiliones: Cyphophthalmi: Pettalidae), which represents the first cytogenetic analysis of Opiliones from theAustralasian ecozone. The diploid complement comprised 30 chromosomes, as reported earlier for two otherspecies of Cyphophthalmi in the family Sironidae, but with a predominance of biarmed chromosomes in A. arcticosa . Morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes were not observed. The course of meiosis isdescribed in the suborder Cyphophthalmi for the first time. Key words Australia, Austropurcellia , chromosome, harvestman, karyotype, meiosis. INTRODUCTION OpilionesisthethirdlargestorderofthearthropodclassArach-nida with c. 6500 described species (Pinto-da-Rocha et al .2007; Kury 2012) divided into four suborders: Cyphophthalmi,Eupnoi, Dyspnoi and Laniatores (e.g. Pinto-da-Rocha et al .2007). Despite their high species diversity and widespreaddistribution (Cyphophthalmi are found in all continents exceptAntarctica, Eupnoi in both hemispheres, Dyspnoi in the North-ern Hemisphere and Laniatores in all continents exceptAntarc-tica but with a peak of diversity in the Southern continents, e.g.Pinto-da-Rocha

A new urodacid scorpion, Urodacus butleri, n. sp., is described from Barrow Island and the Pilbara bioregion of Western Australia. This species is unusually dark in color; it is compared and contrasted with three morphologically similar species, Urodacus manicatus (Thorell, 1876), Urodacus novaehollandiae Peters, 1861, and Urodacus planimanus Pocock, 1893.

The Assassin Spiders of the family Archaeidae are an ancient and iconic lineage of basal araneomorph spiders, characterised by a specialised araneophagic ecology and unique, ‘pelican-like’ cephalic morphology. Found throughout the rainforests, wet sclerophyll forests and mesic heathlands of south-western, south-eastern and north-eastern Australia, the genus Austrarchaea Forster & Platnick, 1984 includes a diverse assemblage of relictual, largely short-range endemic species. With recent dedicated field surveys and significant advances in our understanding of archaeid biology and ecology, numerous new species of assassin spiders have been discovered in the montane sub-tropical and warm-temperate closed forests of mid-eastern Australia, including several rare or enigmatic taxa and species of conservation concern. This fauna is revised and 17 new species are described from south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales: A. alani sp. n., A. aleenae sp. n., A. binfordae sp. n., A. christopheri sp. n., A. clyneae sp. n., A. cunninghami sp. n., A. dianneae sp. n., A. harmsi sp. n., A. helenae sp. n., A. judyae sp. n., A. mascordi sp. n., A. mcguiganae sp. n., A. milledgei sp. n., A. monteithi sp. n., A. platnickorum sp. n., A. raveni sp. n. and A. smithae sp. n. Adult specimens of the type species, A. nodosa (Forster, 1956) are redescribed from the Lamington Plateau, south-eastern Queensland, and distinguished from the sympatric species A. dianneae sp. n. A key to species and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of COI and COII mtDNA sequences complement the species-level taxonomy, with maps, habitat photos, natural history information and conservation assessments provided for all species.

The Solomon Island endemic species of Charontidae, Stygophrynus (Neocharon) forsteri Dunn 1949, is transferred to the genus Charon, thus forming the new combination Charon forsteri (Dunn 1949). The subgenus Neocharon is a junior synonym of Charon. The distribution of Stygophrynus is found to be restricted to Southeast Asia from southern Myanmar to Java, not spreading east of Wallace's Line. We provide a full description, diagnosis, and numerous figures of Charon forsteri.

The spider family Selenopidae Simon occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, currently containing nearly 200 species in five genera. We relimit and revise the family to include four new genera and 27 new species from Australia and Asia. The family Selenopidae is redefined, as are the genera Anyphops Benoit, Garcorops Corronca, Hovops Benoit, Selenops Latreille, and Siamspinops Dankittipakul and Corronca, to accommodate the new genera and to correct previous errors in the definition. The species of Selenops that occur throughout India and China are also reviewed. Three species occur in China: S. bursarius Karsch, also known from Japan, Korea and Taiwan, S. ollarius Zhu, Sha, and Chen, and S. radiatus Latreille, the type of the genus and most widespread selenopid. Selenops cordatus Zhu, Sha, and Chen is recognized as a junior synonym of S. radiatus, syn. n. Amamanganops gen. n. is monotypic, with A. baginawa sp. n., and is known only from the Philippine island of Mindoro. Godumops gen. n. is monotypic, with G. careus sp. n., and is known only from Papua New Guinea. Karaops gen. n. occurs throughout Australia and has 24 species: K. australiensis (L. Koch) comb. n., K. gangarie sp. n., K. monteithi sp. n., K. alanlongbottomi sp. n., K. keithlongbottomi sp. n., K. larryoo sp. n., K. jarrit sp. n., K. marrayagong sp. n., K. raveni sp. n., K. badgeradda sp. n., K. burbidgei sp. n., K. karrawarla sp. n., K. julianneae sp. n., K. martamarta sp. n., K. manaayn sp. n., K. vadlaadambara sp. n., K. pilkingtoni sp. n., K. deserticola sp. n., K. ngarutjaranya sp. n., K. francesae sp. n., K. toolbrunup sp. n., the type species K. ellenae sp. n., K. jenniferae sp. n., and K. dawara sp. n. The genus Makdiops gen. n. contains five species from India and Nepal: M. agumbensis (Tikader), comb. n., the type of the genus M. mahishasura sp. n., M. montigenus (Simon), comb. n., M. nilgirensis (Reimoser) comb. n., and M. shiva sp. n. The genus Pakawops gen. n. is monotypic and contains P. formosanus (Kayashima) comb. n. known only from Taiwan. Finally, Selenops aculeatus Simon is transferred to the genus Siamspinops, forming the new combination S. aculeatus (Simon) comb. n. The distribution and diversity of the Australasian selenopid fauna is discussed. Keys are provided to all of the selenopid genera and to the species of Karaops and Makdiops.

The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code, is to conserve the widely used pseudoscorpion generic name Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930 by giving it precedence over the genus-group name Blothrus Schiodte, 1847, which is currently used as a subgenus or synonym of Neobisium. The name Neobisium is in widespread use for a group of pseudoscorpions found in the western Palaearctic region.

The Australian schizomid fauna consists of eight genera distributed across the northern half of the country, and are mostly restricted to rainforest or subterranean ecosystems. Several schizomid species have been previously described from the arid Pilbara bioregion of Western Australia, occurring in subterranean cavities that are accessible only by troglofauna sampling. We document the schizomids from subterranean habitats on the western edge of the Hamersley Range using morphological characters and sequence data from the genes COI, ITS2 rRNA, 12S rRNA and 28S rRNA. Several genetic clades were found to cluster geographically, consistent with the geomorphology of the region. Adult males were available for four clades (Paradraculoides affinis sp. nov., P. cochranus sp. nov., P. confusus sp. nov. and P. trinity sp. nov.), females only were present for two clades (P. catho sp. nov. and P. obrutus sp. nov.), and only a single juvenile was available for another clade (P. celatus sp. nov.). We hypothesize that each of these clades represent distinct species which are here named and described.

The aganippine spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Gaius Rainbow, 1914 are revised. Seven new species are described from Western Australia: G. aurora sp. nov., G. austini sp. nov., G. cooperi sp. nov., G. hueyi sp. nov., G. humphreysi sp. nov., G. mainae sp. nov. and G. tealei sp. nov. The type species, G. villosus Rainbow, 1914, is re-illustrated and re-diagnosed, and molecular data for six (of eight) species and six genes are analyzed with Bayesian methods. Species of Gaius are iconic denizens of the Western Australian inland arid zone, renowned for their large size and extreme longevity. We here document the known diversity and conservation status of these spiders, and summarize their unusual biology and phenology.

The aganippine spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Bungulla Rix, Main, Raven & Harvey are revised, and 30 new species are described from Western Australia: B. ajana sp. nov., B. aplini sp. nov., B. banksia sp. nov., B. bella sp. nov., B. bidgemia sp. nov., B. biota sp. nov., B. bringo sp. nov., B. burbidgei sp. nov., B. dipsodes sp. nov., B. disrupta sp. nov., B. ferraria sp. nov., B. fusca sp. nov., B. gibba sp. nov., B. hamelinensis sp. nov., B. harrisonae sp. nov., B. hillyerae sp. nov., B. inermis sp. nov., B. iota sp. nov., B. keigheryi sp. nov., B. keirani sp. nov., B. kendricki sp. nov., B. laevigata sp. nov., B. mckenziei sp. nov., B. oraria sp. nov., B. parva sp. nov., B. quobba sp. nov., B. sampeyae sp. nov., B. weld sp. nov., B. westi sp. nov. and B. yeni sp. nov. The type species, B. bertmaini Rix, Main, Raven & Harvey, 2017, is re-illustrated and re-diagnosed, and B. riparia (Main, 1957) is re-described. Molecular data from seven genes for a subset of taxa are analyzed with Bayesian methods, to complement the morphological descriptions, to help delimit three species known only from female specimens, and to generate a provisional phylogeny of the genus. Species of Bungulla exhibit a remarkable range of genitalic and somatic morphologies, and we here document this diversity, demonstrating that the characteristic loss of the retrolateral tibial apophysis has not been associated with a concomitant loss of genitalic complexity. We further provide a key to all known species and highlight the southern Carnarvon Basin (including the western Yalgoo and northern Geraldton Sandplains) as a hotspot of diversity.

The geogarypid pseudoscorpion Geogarypus irrugatus (Simon 1899) is redescribed based upon the syntype series from Sumatra. All subsequent records of this species from Asia are shown to be misidentifications.

A review of the pseudoscorpion genus Oreolpium Benedict & Malcolm reveals two species, the type species O. nymphum Benedict & Malcolm 1978 from northwestern USA and O. semotum, new species, from southern Tasmania. Oreolpium is most similar to Neominniza Beier, Thaumatolpium Beier and Teratolpium Beier from South America, and to Protogarypinus Beier from southern Australia. These genera are confirmed as members of Garypinidae, and both species of Oreolpium are found to lack glandular setae on sternites VI-VIII, which is an unusual feature for Garypinidae. Oreolpium demonstrates a remarkable bipolar distribution, similar to that of the pseudoscorpion groups Pseudotyrannochthoniidae, Pseudogarypidae and Syarininae, and to several water mite taxa.

The aganippine spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Eucanippe Rix, Main, Raven & Harvey, 2017 are revised, and six new species from south-western Australia's biodiversity hotspot are described: E. absita sp. nov., E. agastachys sp. nov., E. eucla sp. nov., E. mallee sp. nov., E. mouldsi sp. nov., and E. nemestrina sp. nov. Species of Eucanippe are among the most enigmatic of Australia's Mygalomorphae, with most taxa known only from pitfall-trapped male specimens. Little is known of their biology, natural history or burrow morphology, and a female specimen was unknown prior to targeted field work in 2017. This revision documents the known diversity of Eucanippe in Australia, and reveals a fauna dominated by species with restricted and largely non-overlapping distributions in the heavily-cleared agricultural zone of Australia's south-west.

The first blind Australian species of Tetrablemmidae and only the fourth in the world, Tetrablemma alaus, new species, is described from subterranean habitats in northwestern Australia. The total loss of eyes is correlated with its subterranean existence and is complemented by other troglomorphies including slightly elongated appendages and pale coloration.

A new pirate spider (family Mimetidae) is described as Australomimetus mendax new species from Tasmania, Australia. In this context, all mimetid species currently known from the island have been reviewed and re-illustrated. Five species are recorded and they all belong to the genus Australomimetus Heimer 1986. Re-illustrated here are Australomimetus maculosus (Rainbow 1904), A. tasmaniensis (Hickman 1929) new combination, A. aurioculatus (Hickman 1929) new combination and A. audax (Hickman 1929) new combination. We briefly discuss the phylogenetic relationships of these species and provide distribution maps of their Tasmanian records. Australomimetus mendax is the only species currently endemic to Tasmania. All other species exhibit wide distribution patterns from tropical Queensland to Western Australia. The ranges of A. aurioculatus and A. audax – species originally thought to be Tasmanian endemics – are now extended to include the Australian mainland as well. The cosmopolitan genus Mimetus Hen...

The phylogenetic relationships of the major lineages of the arachnid order Pseudoscorpiones are investigated for the first time using molecular sequence data from two nuclear ribosomal genes and one mitochondrial protein-encoding gene. The data were analyzed using a dynamic homology approach with the new program POY v.4 under parsimony as the optimality criterion. The data show monophyly of Pseudoscorpiones as well as many of its superfamilies (Feaelloidea, Chthonioidea, Cheiridioidea and Sternophoroidea), but not for Neobisiodea or Garypoidea. Cheliferoidea was not monophyletic either due to the position of Neochelanops, which grouped with some garypoids. In all the analyses, Feaelloidea constituted the sister group to all other pseudoscorpions; Chthonioidea is the sister group to the remaining families, which constitute the group Iocheirata sensu Harvey--a clade including pseudoscorpions with venom glands within the pedipalpal fingers. This phylogenetic pattern suggests that venom glands evolved just once within this order of arachnids.