New Pseudoscorpion Families Discovered in Israel by Hebrew University Researchers

November 21, 2023 – Two previously undiscovered families of Pseudoscorpions (Syarinidae and Cheiridiidae) have been found by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers. 

This pioneering research, published in Taxonomy, also introduces the first illustrated identification key based on morphological characteristics, accompanied by distribution maps. The study was conducted by Dr. Sharon Warburg and Dr. Efrat Gavish-Regev from the Hebrew University National Natural History Collections. 

The researchers say that “The findings significantly enhance our comprehension of regional biodiversity, offering crucial resources for forthcoming ecological, taxonomical, and conservation endeavors.” 

Positioned at the convergence of three continents, Israel’s distinct biodiversity has undergone systematic revision, resulting in an updated checklist featuring 61 pseudoscorpion species across 28 genera and fourteen families. Pseudoscorpions are tiny arachnids, two-eight millimeters in length, with four pairs of legs and one pair of relatively large pincer-like claws. Before this study, the pseudoscorpion fauna of Israel was believed to consist of twelve families, 26 genera, and 52 species, including several “subspecies.” 

In future papers, several species will be comprehensively described in separate publications, further advancing the field of pseudoscorpion taxonomy.