Chthoniidae

Chthoniidae

Order Pseudoscorpiones-Family Chthoniidae

We collected three Pseudoscorpion specimens, all belonging to the family Chthoniidae, at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Pseudoscorpions are an order of Arachnids, like spiders and mites, and are called "false scorpions" due to their large, claw-like pedipalps that resemble those of a scorpion. However, they lack the long, venomous telson of a scorpion and are significantly smaller (2-6 mm). Pseudoscorpions belong to the subphylum Chelicerata, and therefore have chelicerae on their anterior body segment (called the prosoma). They are epigean, meaning that they live on the ground, and make their habitats in the moist leaf litter of wooded areas. They are quite common in Oregon, with dozens of genera and potentially hundreds of species residing here, yet are not often seen due to their small size. Their lineage can be seen distributed across the world due to their tendency towards phoresy, which means that they latch on to larger arthropods or mammals as a means of traveling long distances. Like spiders and scorpions, they have venom glands for subduing prey, and are carnivorous hunters of small arthropods. They contribute to their ecosystem with their hunting of arthropods, keeping populations in check, contributing to the soil production through their feces and decay, and are an important member of the food web in their environment.

Cora Layman ('19) , Julie Oatfield ('17), Kellsy Nava-Lopez ('19)