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Schizomida

Common names: micro whipscorpions, schizomids

Probability of encounter: low

Quarantine importance: no known importance.  Schizomids are active predators and achieve high population densities in some areas, and so have the potential to be of conservation concern.  Many species have limited geographical distributions.

Similarity to mites: small size and general arachnid features, but the clearly segmented opisthosoma and terminal knob or spine distinguishes schizomids from mites.

 

Morphology

Normal adult length: < 5 mm (rarely to 10 mm)
Body tagmata: prosoma, opisthosoma, telson
Eyes: absent
Antennae: absent
Mouthparts: 2-segmented fang-like chelicerae; robust, raptorial 5-segmented palps with distal claws
Legs: 4 pairs; legs I antenniform
Distinguishing features: segmented opisthosoma, stabbing chelicerae, 'tail' with knobbed (male) or finger-like process

Diversity: 2 families, 38 genera, >218 species

References

Harvey, M.S.  2003.  Catalogue of the smaller arachnid orders of the World.  CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria

Harvey, M.S.  1992.  The Schizomida (Chelicerata) of Australia.  Invertebrate Taxonomy 6: 77-129.

Redell, J.R. and Cokendolpher, J.C.  1995.  Catalogue, bibliography, and generic revision of the order Schizomida (Arachnida).  Texas Memorial Museum, Speleological Monographs 4: 1-170.