Cheliferidae Risso, 1827
Family
The Cheliferidae is the oldest pseudoscorpion family having been created for the first pseudoscorpion genus, Chelifer, which was described in 1762. For most of the 19th century it included the majority of pseudoscorpions. It was restricted by Chamberlin (1931) and Beier (1932) to include those cheliferoids with the venom apparatus within both chelal fingers, represented by the subfamilies Cheliferinae and Withiinae. Weygoldt (1970) recognized the Withiidae as a distinct family, thus restricting the Cheliferidae. Harvey (1992) augmented the family through the transfer of the enigmatic Australasian genus Philomaoria from the Withiidae to the Cheliferidae.
The family is currently divided into two subfamilies, Cheliferinae and Philomaoriinae. The Cheliferinae have 57 recognized genera and Philomaoriinae contain a single genus, Philomaoria. The poorly described genus Ectoceras and the Chinese amber Trachychelifer liaoningense cannot be placed within any existing group.
Cheliferines are found all over the world, but appear to be less diverse in the Australasian and Neotropical regions than in other regions of the world. Philomaoriines occur in New Zealand and nearby islands.
Beier, M. (1932e). Pseudoscorpionidea II. Subord. C. Cheliferinea. Tierreich 58: i-xxi, 1-294.
Pseudoscorpions in this family
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Amaurochelifer Beier, 1951
1 species -
Ancistrochelifer Beier, 1951
3 species -
Aperittochelifer Beier, 1955
6 species -
Aporochelifer Beier, 1953
1 species -
Aspurochelifer Benedict and Malcolm, 1979
1 species -
Australochelifer Beier, 1975
1 species -
Beierius Chamberlin, 1932
4 species -
Beierochelifer Mahnert, 1977
3 species -
Canarichelifer Beier, 1965
1 species -
Centrochelifer Beier, 1959
1 species -
Chamberlinarius Heurtault, 1990
1 species -
Cheirochelifer Beier, 1967
3 species -
Chelifer Geoffroy, 1762
1 species -
Cubachelifer Hoff, 1946
1 species -
Dactylochelifer Beier, 1932
44 species -
Ellingsenius Chamberlin, 1932
7 species -
Eremochernes Beier, 1932
2 species -
Florichelifer Hoff, 1964
1 species -
Gobichelifer Krumpál, 1979
1 species -
Hansenius Chamberlin, 1932
13 species -
Haplochelifer Chamberlin, 1932
1 species -
Hygrochelifer Murthy and Ananthakrishnan, 1977
2 species -
Hysterochelifer Chamberlin, 1932
13 species -
Idiochelifer Chamberlin, 1932
1 species -
Kashimachelifer Morikawa, 1957
1 species -
Levichelifer Hoff, 1946
2 species -
Lissochelifer Chamberlin, 1932
13 species -
Litochelifer Beier, 1948
1 species -
Lophochernes Simon, 1878
29 species -
Lophodactylus Chamberlin, 1932
1 species -
Macrochelifer Vachon, 1940
1 species -
Mesochelifer Vachon, 1940
5 species -
Metachelifer Redikorzev, 1938
3 species -
Mexichelifer Muchmore, 1973
1 species -
Microchelifer Beier, 1944
9 species -
Mucrochelifer Beier, 1932
1 species -
Nannochelifer Beier, 1967
2 species -
Nannocheliferoides Beier, 1974
1 species -
Pachychelifer Beier, 1962
1 species -
Paisochelifer Hoff, 1946
2 species -
Papuchelifer Beier, 1965
3 species -
Parachelifer Chamberlin, 1932
19 species -
Philomaoria Chamberlin, 1931
2 species -
Phorochelifer Hoff, 1956
1 species -
Pilochelifer Beier, 1935
1 species -
Protochelifer Beier, 1948
7 species -
Pseudorhacochelifer Beier, 1976
4 species -
Pugnochelifer Hoff, 1964
1 species -
Rhacochelifer Beier, 1932
34 species -
Rhopalochelifer Beier, 1964
1 species -
Sinochelifer Beier, 1967
1 species -
Stenochelifer Beier, 1967
2 species -
Strobilochelifer Beier, 1932
1 species -
Stygiochelifer Beier, 1932
1 species -
Telechelifer Chamberlin, 1949
1 species -
Tetrachelifer Beier, 1967
2 species -
Tyrannochelifer Chamberlin, 1932
4 species -
Xenochelifer Chamberlin, 1949
2 species