Garypus titanius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Pseudoscorpiones
Family: Garypidae
Genus: Garypus
Species:
G. titanius
Binomial name
Garypus titanius
Beier, 1961[1]

Garypus titanius, the giant pseudoscorpion, is the largest species of pseudoscorpion—small, scorpion-looking creatures—in the world. Critically endangered, it is restricted to Boatswain Bird Island, a small rocky island off Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.[2] Pseudoscorpions are venomous arachnids (a group that includes spiders, ticks, and scorpions) and are generally tiny—around 3 mm (.1 in) long.[3] The giant pseudoscorpion, though, can grow to five times that size at 11 mm (.5 in).[4] It lives among seabird colonies, feeding mainly at night on smaller prey such as insects.[5] It belongs to the Garypidae family.[6]

The giant pseudoscorpion is threatened by non-native insects and animals, such as mice. It has died out on the larger Ascension Island, a remote volcanic island and British overseas territory that was discovered in 1501.

References

  1. ↑ M. Beier (1961). "Pseudoscorpione von der Insel Ascension" [Pseudoscorpions from Ascension Island]. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 13th ser. (in German). 3 (34): 593–598. doi:10.1080/00222936008651063.
  2. ↑ Caren George. "Endemic Invertebrates of Ascension Island" (PDF). Ascension Island Government Conservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ Schembri, Patrick J.; Baldacchino, Alfred E. (2011). Ilma, Blat u Hajja: Is-Sisien tal-Ambjent Naturali Malti (in Maltese). p. 66. ISBN 978-99909-44-48-8.
  4. ↑ "Pseudoscorpions". Agricultural Research Council. Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (South Africa). 2010. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  5. ↑ Wilkins, V.L., Knight, V. & Gray, A. 2019. Garypus titanius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T135739408A135745815. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T135739408A135745815.en. Accessed on 19 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "Garypus titanius (Beier, 1961)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved February 27, 2012.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.