The systematic position of the scorpion genus Charmus

Summary

In 1917, Birula proposed a new classification of the order Scorpiones and included the genus Charmus under the family Vejovidae, creating a new subfamily Charminae to accommodate it. His argument for the reclassification is that the scorpions of this genus possess a pentagonal sternum. The form of the sternum is not the sole criterion for deciding whether a scorpion belongs to one family or another. Other characters, both morphological and anatomical, like the cheliceral dentition, trichobothrial distribution and the chitinous reinforcement of the lung lamellae indicate unmistakably its affinity to the family Buthidae.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

R.P. Sreenivasa-Reddy

Died on 17 December 1968