Amblypygi is an order of arachnids also known as whip spiders or tailless whip scorpions, not to be confused with whip scorpions or vinegaroons that belong to the related order Thelyphonida. The name "amblypygid" means "blunt tail", a reference to a lack of the flagellum that is otherwise seen in whip scorpions. Amblypygids possess no silk glands or venom. They rarely bite if threatened, but can grab fingers with their pedipalps, resulting in thorn-like puncture injuries.
Stygiocaris is a genus of shrimp from caves in the North West Cape and Barrow Island, Western Australia.
Scorpionidae is a family of burrowing scorpions or pale-legged scorpions in the superfamily Scorpionoidea. The family was established by Pierre André Latreille, 1802.
Troglomorphism is the morphological adaptation of an animal to living in the constant darkness of caves, characterised by features such as loss of pigment, reduced eyesight or blindness, and frequently with attenuated bodies or appendages. The terms troglobitic, stygobitic, stygofauna, troglofauna, and hypogean or hypogeic, are often used for cave-dwelling organisms.
Urodacus is a genus of scorpion belonging to the family Urodacidae. It was described by German naturalist Wilhelm Peters in 1861. The type species is U. novaehollandiae. Its species are native to Australia, and dig burrows. The genus was placed in its own family in 2000. Before this, the group had been a subfamily Urodacinae within the family Scorpionidae.
Urodacus manicatus, commonly known as the black rock scorpion, is a species of scorpion belonging to the family Urodacidae. It is native to eastern Australia.
The Pseudochactidae are a scorpion family. They are predominantly found in caves.
Hormurus is a genus of scorpions, commonly known as rainforest scorpions, in the family Hormuridae, that occur in rainforest habitats, mainly in Australia and Melanesia. The genus was first described by Swedish arachnologist Tamerlan Thorell in 1876.
Urodacidae is a family containing two genera of scorpions, both of which are endemic to Australia. It was first described by British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock in 1893. Formerly a subfamily (Urodacinae) of the Scorpionidae, it was later raised to family rank. Its sister taxon is the monotypic family Heteroscorpionidae, the species of which are confined to Madagascar.
Afrolychas braueri, commonly known as the Seychelles forest scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. It is currently thought to survive only on Silhouette Island, Seychelles, although the species was historically found on two additional Seychellois islands. This scorpion lives in leaf litter in forests that are largely unaffected by invasive plant species. It is a small yellowish-brown scorpion with three prominent keels on the dorsal surface of its mesosoma, which distinguishes it from other scorpions. While not much is known about the Seychelles forest scorpion's ecology due to the paucity of sightings, it is known to rely solely on its venom to capture its prey and defend its young. Its venom is not dangerous to humans.
Troglodiplura challeni is a species of troglomorphic spider in the family Anamidae, found in Western Australia.
Troglodiplura harrisi is a species of troglomorphic spider in the family Anamidae, found in Western Australia, in caves on the Nullarbor Plain.
Apozomus volschenki is a species of short-tailed whip-scorpions, also known as schizomids, in the Hubbardiidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2001 by Australian arachnologist Mark Harvey. The specific epithet volschenki honours Erich Volschenk, collector of type specimens.
Hormurus ischnoryctes is a species of scorpion in the Hormuridae family. It is native to Australia, where it has only been found in north-eastern Queensland. It was first described in 2013.
Hormurus ochyroscapter is a species of scorpion in the Hormuridae family. It is native to Australia, where it occurs in north-eastern Queensland. It was first described in 2013.
Hormurus litodactylus is a species of scorpion in the Hormuridae family. It is native to Australia, where it occurs in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland. It was first described in 2004.
Hormurus polisorum, also known as the Christmas Island cave scorpion, is a species of troglobitic scorpion in the Hormuridae family. It is endemic to Australia’s Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. It was first described in 2001; at the time of its discovery, it was the first troglobitic scorpion species recorded for Australia, and the second outside the Americas. The scorpions are rare, blind, obligate cave-dwellers, and are restricted to only a few caves on Christmas Island.
Urodacus butleri is a species of scorpion in the Urodacidae family. It is endemic to Australia, and was first described in 2012.
Urodacus mckenziei is a species of scorpion in the Urodacidae family. It is endemic to Australia, and was first described in 2000 by Erich Volschenk, Graeme Smith and Mark Harvey.
Jorottui is a genus of amblypygid containing a single species, Jorottui ipuanai. It is endemic to Colombia, being first collected from caves in the Upper Camarones river basin. It is one of two genera within the family Paracharontidae, the other being Paracharon from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. J. ipuanai is troglobitic, living only in caves and lacking eyes. Like Paracharon, the pedipalps of Jorottui fold vertically upwards, rather than horizontally in front of the body. It was described in 2023.
