J.A. NEETHLING1, 2 & C.R. HADDAD1
1Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300 , South Africa
2Department of Arachnology, National Museum, P.O. Box 266, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa. E-mail: ja.neethling@nasmus.co.za
ABSTRACT
The pseudoscorpion family Geogarypidae of South Africa was revised. Prior to this study the family consisted of eight species in two genera (Afrogarypus Beier, 1931 and Geogarypus Chamberlin, 1930).
– the character we all love to hate-
Typecasting is defined as “assigning (an actor or actress) repeatedly to the same type of role, as a result of the appropriateness of their appearance or previous success in such roles.” Some actors, for example, always play the hero in a film, while others are always cast as antagonists. The latter has, unfortunately, been true of our arachnid actors since their earliest days in the film industry.
Pseudoscorpions originated in pre-Devonian times, more than 400 million years ago, and are one of the oldest living animal groups, having diverged into more than 3 400 species in 26 families. Because of their small size and lack of medical and agricultural importance, pseudoscorpions have been studied by only a small group of scientists, mostly taxonomists. Only recently have these arthropods begun to gain the interest of a wider audience.