First fossil of the pseudoscorpion family Chernetidae Menge, 1855 (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

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  First fossil of the pseudoscorpion family Chernetidae Menge, 1855 (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber Abstract Pseudoscorpions ( Arachnida : Pseudoscorpiones ) are amongst the oldest terrestrial lineages but their fossil record is still very sparse. In recent years, Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber has emerged as an important source for fossil pseudoscorpions. In this study, we extend the fossil record of the family Chernetidae Menge, 1855 – one of the most diverse pseudoscorpion families – by at least 20 million years through the description of a new genus and species, † Burmachernes gen. nov . for the new species † Burmachernes cenomanium sp. nov . from this amber deposit. Although † Burmachernes exhibits the principle synapomorphy of Chernetidae , namely venom glands in the movable chelal finger, it is distinguished from all 121 extant genera as well as the Eocene fossil genus † Oligochernes Beier, 1937 by a unique combination of characters, inc...

Beyond morphology alone: species delimitation, hemispermatophore comparisons and comments on the systematic status of Scorpiops Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae) with a description of three new species from peninsular India

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Beyond morphology alone: species delimitation, hemispermatophore comparisons and comments on the systematic status of Scorpiops Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae) with a description of three new species from peninsular India

Abstract:

The scorpion genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 exhibits significant diversity and high endemism. Our extensive arachnological surveys, species delimitation analyses and an integrative taxonomic approach revealed three new species of Scorpiops in peninsular India. Furthermore, we tested the phylogenetic placement of Scorpiops pachmarhicus Bastawade, 1992 and give the first description of a male specimen of the species. Additionally, we provide a detailed account of the hemispermatophore morphology in Scorpiops species from the maharashtraensis, sataraensis, and tenuicauda clades for the first time.
Deshpande, S., Ukale, S., Bapat, S., Bastawade, D., Tang, V., Gowande, G., & Sulakhe, S. (2026). Beyond morphology alone: Species delimitation, hemispermatophore comparisons and comments on the systematic status of Scorpiops Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae) with a description of three new species from peninsular India. Zoologischer Anzeiger. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2026.05.008