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Type: Article
Published: 2014-06-06
Page range: 37–67
Abstract views: 20
PDF downloaded: 1

An annotated checklist and a family key to the pseudoscorpion fauna (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) of Sri Lanka

Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, 20000 Kandy, Sri Lanka Present address: Wildlife Conservation Society Galle, Hiyare, Galle, Sri Lanka.
Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, 20000 Kandy, Sri Lanka
biodiversity Deccan plate endemics India Knuckles Range Central Hills arachnids

Abstract

Sri Lanka is part of the Western Ghats & Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot. Thus, the conservation of Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity is crucial. The current study is part of an ongoing survey of pseudoscorpion fauna of Sri Lanka. We carried out an island-wide survey of pseudoscorpions using a range of collection methods to sample a diverse set of habitats around the country. This produced 32 species, four of which might be new to science, belonging to 25 genera. The family Cheiridiidae was discovered on the island for the first time. One new combination, Indogarypus ceylonicus (Beier, 1973) comb. nov., is proposed. Out of the 47 species now recorded, 20 (43 %) are potentially endemic to Sri Lanka. We provide a checklist of all known species, document their distribution and give a key to the families.