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.
The classification is based on that of Soleglad and Fet (2003), which replaced the older, unpublished classification of Stockwell.Stockwell, Scott A., 1989. Revision of the Phylogeny and Higher Classification of Scorpions (Chelicerata). Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley Additional taxonomic changes are from papers by Soleglad et al. (2005). 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.
Taxonomy 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).
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