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.[3] Pseudoscorpions are venomous arachnids (a group that includes spiders, ticks, and scorpions) and are generally tiny—around 3 mm (.1 in) long.[4] The giant pseudoscorpion, though, can grow to five times that size at 11 mm (.5 in).[5] It lives among seabird colonies, feeding mainly at night on smaller prey such as insects.[1] It belongs to the Garypidae family.[6]
| Garypus titanius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Pseudoscorpiones |
| Family: | Garypidae |
| Genus: | Garypus |
| Species: | G. titanius |
| Binomial name | |
| Garypus titanius Beier, 1961[2] | |
The giant pseudoscorpion is threatened by non-native insects and other 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
edit- 1 2 Wilkins, V.L.; Knight, V.; Gray, A. (2019). "Garypus titanius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T135739408A135745815. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T135739408A135745815.en.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Caren George. "Endemic Invertebrates of Ascension Island" (PDF). Ascension Island Government Conservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 9, 2010.
- ↑ Schembri, Patrick J.; Baldacchino, Alfred E. (2011). Ilma, Blat u Hajja: Is-Sisien tal-Ambjent Naturali Malti [Water, Rock and Life: The Foundations of the Maltese Natural Environment] (in Maltese). Malta University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-99909-44-48-8.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Garypus titanius Beier, 1961". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
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