Hemiscorpiidae

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Hemiscorpiidae
Opisthacanthus rugiceps
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Hemiscorpiidae
Diversity
12 genera, c. 70 species
Genera

See text.
Synonyms

Ischnuridae
Liochelidae

Hemiscorpiidae is a family of scorpions with 72 described species in 12 genera. Their old name is Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly family of the same name. They at one point also held the name Liochelidae.

Contents

[edit] Description

Most species have a very flat and broad body plan, due to their main habitat in tight rock crevices. Some long-living species can reach a length of more than 20 cm.

[edit] Distribution

Hemiscorpiidae are distributed throughout the world's tropics and subtropics, with the exception of North America Such as Nevada or Arizona

[edit] Human interaction

Many species are held as pets.In this family are one of the less venomous scopions. Only genus Hemiscorpius have a strong venom; especially that of Hemiscorpius lepturus can result in deadly accidents.

[edit] Genera

  • Cheloctonus Pocock, 1892
  • Chiromachetes Pocock, 1899
  • Chiromachus Pocock, 1893
  • Habibiella Vachon, 1974
  • Hadogenes Kraepelin, 1894
  • Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861
  • Heteroscorpion Birula, 1903
  • Iomachus Pocock, 1893
  • Liocheles Sundevall, 1833
  • Monodopisthacanthus Lourenço, 2001
  • Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861
  • Paleocheloctonus Lourenço, 1996

[edit] References

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