Australian Biological Resources Study

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Family CHELIFERIDAE Westwood, 1838


Compiler and date details

Mark S. Harvey, Western Australian Museum, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Introduction

The Cheliferidae are a large, cosmopolitan family that includes many corticolous species, as well as others found under rocks or in leaf litter. Three tribes are recognised: Cheliferini, Dactylocheliferini and Philomaoriini (Harvey 1991, 1992), but only the Dactylocheliferini and Philomaoriini have been recorded from Australia. Approximately 60 genera and 280 species currently are recognised (Harvey 1991), most recorded from the tropics and the Northern Hemisphere. The Australian fauna is small.

 

Diagnosis

Cheliferids can be distinguished from the remaining cheliferoids as follows: from the Chernetidae and Atemnidae by the presence of a venom apparatus in both chelal fingers, and from the Withiidae by the oblique junction between the femora and patellae of the anterior legs.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
31-Oct-2012 31-Oct-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)