Garypus titanius
Species of pseudoscorpion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Garypus titanius, the giant pseudoscorpion, is the largest species of pseudoscorpion—small, scorpion-looking creatures—in the world. Critically endangered, it is restricted to Boatswain Bird Island, a small rocky island off Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.[3] Pseudoscorpions are venomous arachnids (a group that includes spiders, ticks, and scorpions) and are generally tiny—around 3 mm (.1 in) long.[4] The giant pseudoscorpion, though, can grow to five times that size at 11 mm (.5 in).[5] It lives among seabird colonies, feeding mainly at night on smaller prey such as insects.[1] It belongs to the Garypidae family.[6]
| Garypus titanius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Pseudoscorpiones |
| Family: | Garypidae |
| Genus: | Garypus |
| Species: | G. titanius |
| Binomial name | |
| Garypus titanius Beier, 1961[2] | |
The giant pseudoscorpion is threatened by non-native insects and other animals, such as mice. It has died out on the larger Ascension Island, a remote volcanic island and British overseas territory that was discovered in 1501.
