Pseudochactida Soleglad & Fet, 2003

Soleglad, Michael E. & Fet, Victor, 2003, High-level systematics and phylogeny of the extant scorpions (Scorpiones: Orthosterni), Euscorpius 2003 (11), pp. 1-175 : 87-89

Parvorder Pseudochactida Soleglad & Fet , new parvorder

Composition. This monotypic parvorder, established here, includes the monotypic superfamily Pseudochactoidea . It corresponds to orthobothriotaxy “ Type D” ( Soleglad & Fet, 2001).

Distribution. Central Asia. No fossil taxa are known.

Biogeographic history. The parvorder and superfamily could have been established in Permian/Triassic, judging from their ancestral position in scorpion phylogeny. We cannot speculate on whether this lineage was localized or widespread since there are no fossils belonging to Pseudochactida , and the parvorder is represented by a single monotypic genus.

Diagnosis. Scorpions in the parvorder Pseudochactida can be distinguished by the following characters: Synapomorphies. Orthobothriotaxy type D; dorsal edge of cheliceral movable finger without basal denticle; ventral surface of leg tarsus with two submedian rows of spinules; transverse anterior carinae developed on metasomal segments I–III; stigma small and oval in shape. Important Symplesiomorphies. Two ventral median carinae of metasomal segment V; sternum of type 1, lacking horizontal compression; median denticle row ( MD) of pedipalp chelal finger arranged in oblique groups; pedipalp chela exhibits “8-carinae” configuration; pedipalp patella exhibits “7-carinae” configuration; ventral edge of cheliceral movable finger crenu-

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lated; dorsal edge of cheliceral movable finger with single subdistal denticle; ventral surface of cheliceral fixed finger with denticles.