Hemiscorpiidae
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Hemiscorpiidae | ||||||||||||
| Pocock , 1893 |
The Hemiscorpiidae are a family of scorpions (Scorpiones) with 72 known species in 12 genera . They were formerly known as Ischnuridae, but had to be renamed because they had the same name as a dragonfly family . This took place first in the name "Liochelidae" and later in the currently valid name Hemiscorpiidae.
features
A characteristic feature of most representatives of this taxon is their very flat and broad physique. This is seen as an adaptation to their way of life, as they mostly hang out in narrow crevices. Some very long-lived species can grow to be over 8 inches tall.
distribution and habitat
The species of the Hemiscorpiidae occur on all continents with the exception of North America in subtropical and tropical climates.
Systematics
The following genera are summarized as Hemiscorpiidae:
- Cheloctonus Pocock , 1892
- Chiromachetes Pocock , 1899
- Chiromachus Pocock , 1893
- Habibiella Vachon , 1974
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Hadogenes Kraepelin , 1894
- Fissured scorpion ( Hadogenes bicolor )
- Hemiscorpius Peters , 1861
- Heteroscorpion Birula , 1903
- Iomachus Pocock , 1893
- Liocheles Sundevall , 1833
- Monodopisthacanthus Lourenço , 2001
- Opisthacanthus Peters , 1861
- Paleocheloctonus Lourenço , 1996
Hemiscorpiidae and humans
Many of the species are kept as terrarium animals. Their poisons are sometimes very strong and the poison of Hemiscorpius lepturus in particular can also be fatal for humans.
Web links
- Hemiscorpiidae at The Scorpion Files (English)