The taxonomy of scorpions deals with the classification of this predatory arthropod into 13 extant families and about 1,400 described species and subspecies. In addition, 111 described taxa of extinct scorpions are known.[1]
The classification is based on that of Soleglad and Fet (2003),[2] which replaced the older, unpublished classification of Stockwell.[3] Additional taxonomic changes are from papers by Soleglad et al. (2005).[4][5]
The classification proposed by Fet and Soleglad in 2003 and subsequent papers has not been universally accepted; some authorities have challenged their methodology as invalid.[5]
Taxonomy
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Order Scorpiones
Infraorder Orthosterni Pocock, 1911
Parvorder Pseudochactida Soleglad et Fet, 2003
Superfamily Pseudochactoidea Gromov, 1998
Family Pseudochactidae Gromov, 1998
Parvorder Buthida Soleglad et Fet, 2003
Superfamily Buthoidea C. L. Koch, 1837
Family Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837 (thick-tailed scorpions)
Family Microcharmidae Lourenço, 1996
Parvorder Chaerilida Soleglad et Fet, 2003
Superfamily Chaeriloidea Pocock, 1893
Family Chaerilidae Pocock, 1893
Subfamily Chearilinae Pocock, 1893
† Subfamily Electrochearilinae Fet, Soleglad et Anderson 2004 (extinct)
Parvorder Iurida Soleglad et Fet, 2003
Superfamily Chactoidea Pocock, 1893
Family Chactidae Pocock, 1893
Subfamily Chactinae Pocock, 1893
Tribe Chactini Pocock, 1893
Tribe Nullibrotheini Soleglad et Fet, 2003
Subfamily Brotheinae Simon, 1879
Tribe Belisariini Lourenço, 1998
Tribe Brotheini Simon, 1879
Subtribe Brotheina Simon, 1879
Subtribe Neochactina Soleglad et Fet, 2003
Subfamily Uroctoninae
Family Euscorpiidae Laurie, 1896
Subfamily Euscorpiinae Laurie, 1896
Subfamily Megacorminae Kraepelin, 1905
Tribe Chactopsini Soleglad et Sissom, 2001
Tribe Megacormini Kraepelin, 1905
Subfamily Scorpiopinae Kraepelin, 1905
Tribe Scorpiopini Kraepelin, 1905
Tribe Troglocormini Soleglad et Sissom, 2001
Family Superstitioniidae Stahnke, 1940
Subfamily Superstitioniinae Stahnke, 1940
Subfamily Typlochactinae Mitchell, 1971
Family Vaejovidae Thorell, 1876
Superfamily Iuroidea Thorell, 1876
Family Caraboctonidae Kraepelin, 1905 (hairy scorpions)
Subfamily Caraboctoninae Kraepelin, 1905
Subfamily Hadrurinae Stahnke, 1974
Family Iuridae Thorell, 1876
Superfamily Scorpionoidea Latreille, 1802
Family Bothriuridae Simon, 1880
Subfamily Bothriurinae Simon, 1880
Subfamily Lisposominae Lawrence, 1928
Family Hemiscorpiidae Pocock, 1893 (= Ischnuridae, =Liochelidae) (rock scorpions, creeping scorpions, or tree scorpions)
Subfamily Hemiscorpiinae Pocock, 1893
Subfamily Heteroscorpioninae Kraepelin, 1905
Subfamily Hormurinae Laurie, 1896
† Family Protoischnuridae Carvalho et Lourenço 2001 (extinct)
Family Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802 (burrowing scorpions or pale-legged scorpions)
Subfamily Diplocentrinae Karsch, 1880
Tribe Diplocentrini Karsch, 1880
Tribe Nebini Kraepelin, 1905
Subfamily Scorpioninae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Urodacinae Pocock, 1893
Superfamily incertae sedis
† Family Palaeoeuscorpiidae Lourenço 2003 (extinct)
Parvorder incertae sedis
† Family Archaeobuthidae Lourenço 2003 (extinct)
† Family Palaeopisthacanthidae Kjellesvig-Wæring 1986 (extinct)
† Family Protobuthidae Lourenço et Gall 2003 (extinct)
† Family incertae sedis (contains genera Corniops Jeram 1994; Palaeoburmesebuthus Lourenço 2002; Sinoscorpius Hong 1983).
^Stockwell, Scott A., 1989. Revision of the Phylogeny and Higher Classification of Scorpions (Chelicerata). Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley