A new genus and five new species of pseudoscorpions (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones, Withiidae) from Colombia.

The pseudoscorpion family Withiidae is widely distributed around the world, with most of its diversity in tropical areas. Five new species and a new genus from Colombia are described: Cystowithiusflorezisp. nov., Parawithiusbromelicolasp. nov., Oligowithiusachaguasp. nov., and the genus Paciwithiusgen. nov. with two species Paciwithiusvalduparensissp. nov. and Paciwithiuschimbilacussp. nov. A reassessment of the subgenus Dolichowithius (Oligowithius) Beier, 1936 allows the elevation to a full generic level, and the transfer of the only known species to Oligowithius, forming the new combination Oligowithiusabnormis (Beier, 1936), comb. nov.

A new species and new records of Pachychernes Beier, 1932 from Colombia (Pseudoscorpiones, Chernetidae).

In Colombia, the status of the Neotropical genus Pachychernes Beier, 1932 is unknown. The only available data in literature to support the presence of this genus is an adult of P. aff. subrobustus, possibly female, from copal resin without specific locality data, and a record at generic level from Northern Colombia. In this study, we extend the distribution of Pachychernes by describing a new species, P. florezi sp. n. and several reporting individuals of P. zehorum Muchmore, 1997 from Montes de Mara and the Caribbean coast of the country. These species are clearly differentiated from one another by the sexual dimorphism in the latter species, with a depression on the tarsus I in males. We also present an updated key for all species of the genus.

The pseudoscorpion genus Verrucachernes (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae) in the Indian region.

The pseudoscorpion genus Verrucachernes Chamberlin, 1947 is widely distributed in the Old World tropics, with three named Australasian and West Pacific species and two from Africa. A review of some pseudoscorpions described from India has revealed that Withius parvus Beier, 1930 (currently in the genus Metawithius) and Pselaphochernes indicus Beier, 1974 are misplaced and actually belong to the genus Verrucachernes Chamberlin, 1947, forming the new combinations V. parvus (Beier, 1930) comb. nov. and V. indicus (Beier, 1974) comb. nov., respectively. Both species possess the single, large, rounded spermatheca and other features typical of Verrucachernes.

Checklist of the false scorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) of Colombia, with new records and a key to the identification of the families.

Colombia is a mega-biodiverse country and rich in ecosystems as different as the Amazon and the Andes. Much is known of the vertebrate fauna, however there is still an information-gap for many arthropod groups including the arachnids. Here, we compile all the information available for pseudoscorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) recorded from Colombia and include several new records and distribution extensions. For each described species, we present information on taxonomic history, type localities, global and local distributions, repository of Colombian specimens, and collection numbers when available. We document 12 families, 45 genera and 65 species of pseudoscorpions for Colombia and most species belong to the families Chernetidae (27 species) and Olpiidae (8 species). We record Beierolpium venezuelense Heurtault, 1982, Geogarypus amazonicus Mahnert, 1979, Sathrochthonius venezuelanus Muchmore, 1989, and Semeiochernes armiger (Balzan, 1892) for the first time for Colombia. We further extend the known ranges of Parachernes melonopygus Beier, 1959 and Paratemnoides nidificator (Balzan, 1888). The data suggest that the Caribbean region of Colombia has the highest number of records. Total numbers are not complete and many other new pseudoscorpion species are expected.