The first Cheliferidae (Pseudoscorpiones: Cheliferoidea) from mid‐Cretaceous Kachin amber

Journal article

Pseudoscorpiones are a group of small‐sized to medium‐sized arachnids under the species‐rich Chelicerata. They are found in many terrestrial habitats, normally cryptic, including leaf litter and soil, under tree bark or rocks. The fossil record of pseudoscorpions is mainly composed of species belonging to extinct genera in extant families, with a small number of taxa described from the famous Kachin amber, sometimes referred to as Burmese amber or Burmite (12 species in six families). Here, we describe a well preserved male specimen of pseudoscorpion from mid‐Cretaceous Kachin amber, representing the first fossil record of Cheliferidae from Burmese amber. This new taxon, Echinochelifer curvatus gen. & sp. nov., is characterized by elongate tubercle‐bearing pedipalps and several trichobothrial features. Based on these, we discuss the systematic placement and palaeoecological implications of the new taxon in Burmese amber.

Authors: Feng, C; Guo, X; Zhuang, Y; Zhang, Q; Jouault, C

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Journal of Systematics and Evolution
• Volume: 64
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 344-353
• Publication date: 2025-10-01
• Acceptance date: 2025-08-02
• DOI: 10.1111/jse.70018
• EISSN: 1759-6831
• ISSN: 1674-4918
• Language: English
• Keywords: taxonomy; Arachnida; false scorpions; new taxon; palaeoecology