BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 August 2008 How many species of fossil arachnids are there
Jason A. Dunlop, David Penney, O. Erik Tetlie, Lyall I. Anderson
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The species-level diversity of fossil Chelicerata is summarized for each order. 1952 valid species of fossil chelicerates are currently recognized, of which 1593 are arachnids. In order of abundance they are: Araneae (979 fossil species), Actinotrichida (283), Eurypterida (241), Scorpiones (111), Xiphosura (96), Trigonotarbida (71), Pseudoscorpiones (38), Phalangiotarbida (30), Opiliones (25), Ricinulei (15), and Anactinotrichida (11). Other groups are represented by ten fossil species or fewer. Based on published descriptions, spiders thus appear to dominate the fossil arachnid species assemblage, making up a greater proportion of paleodiversity than their Recent diversity would predict. Scorpions are also overrepresented, particularly in the Paleozoic, compared to their modern diversity. By contrast, groups like mites, harvestmen, pseudoscorpions and solifuges are noticeably under-represented as fossils when compared to modern patterns of diversity.

Jason A. Dunlop, David Penney, O. Erik Tetlie, and Lyall I. Anderson "How many species of fossil arachnids are there," The Journal of Arachnology 36(2), 267-272, (1 August 2008). https://doi.org/10.1636/CH07-89.1
Received: 26 November 2007; Published: 1 August 2008
KEYWORDS
Arachnida
Chelicerata
diversity
fossil
species counts
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top