Schizomida (Short-tailed Whip Scorpions)
"Members of order Schizomida are tiny soft-bodied arachnids that inhabit the top layer of soil in caves and under rocks. Some of them also live inside decomposing wood, and several species are myrmecophile, living in ant nests. In these humid habitats they actively search for their prey – tinier invertebrates. In fact we are not really sure what schizomids feed on in the wild, but records show that they will gladly take down Isopods, springtails, mites and other small arthropods. At first glance they look like a sac spider crawling on the ground. However, a closer inspection reveals that their body proportions are different from those of spiders.
Their name comes from the structure of the cephalothorax, which is split into several plates unlike in any other arachnid. Schizomids also have no eyes, which means their perception of the world is mostly tactile- and chemical-based. Their front pair of legs evolved into a sensory organ that can smell and taste as well as provide information on what is lying in front of the arachnid. These legs are called antenniform legs and they are very similar to those found in other arachnids, like whip spiders, vinegaroons, palpigrades, and even some mites, all of which walk on six legs only. The schizomid pedipalps are sturdy and built for grabbing, assisting in prey capture. Interestingly, their hind legs are modified and look very similar to those of crickets, and indeed it is reported that some species can jump to safety when threatened.
Another important character of schizomids is their short tail or flagellum (as opposed to the long flagellum in other tailed arachnids like vinegaroons and palpigrades). The tail is used for sensing but in males it has a unique structure, and it is possible that it plays a role in courtship or mating. In fact male tails are so different from species to species, that they are often used as an identification character in taxonomy.
The Schizomida order contains about 350 species globally, with new species still being discovered. There are two existing families; Most of the known species belong to Hubbardiidae, while some Southern North American species comprise the smaller family Protoschizomidae. As a group they are closely related to the vinegaroons (or whip scorpions), and might even share some of their chemical defense against predators – there are reports of at least two species secreting odorous compounds when disturbed."
Source: https://gilwizen.com/schizomids/
Family: Hubbardiidae [69 genera; 363 species]
| Scientific Name | Author/s | Common Name | Last Record | Distribution | Status | Taxon Profile |
| Surazomus chavin | Pinto-da-Rocha, 1996 | Peruvian short-tailed whip scorpion | (rediscovered) | Panguana, Dept. Huanuco, Peru | Rediscovered | Access |
Family: Protoschizomidae [2 genera; 16 species]
—No subordinate taxa
Statistics
| Conservation status | Number of taxa (in percentage) |
| Extinct | 0 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Extinct in the Wild | 0 |
| Possibly Extinct in the Wild | 0 |
| Globally Rediscovered | 1 (100%) |
| Rediscovered in the Wild | 0 |
| Reintroduced | 0 |
| Hypothetical | 0 |
| Invalid | 0 |
| Erroneously listed | 0 |
| Uncertain status | 0 |
| Total | 1 |
Links:
Harvey, Mark S. (2013). Schizomids of the World, version 1.0. Western Australian Museum, Perth. Available at: https://www.museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/schizomids [Accessed on 12 July 2026]
WSC (World Schizomida Catalog). (2022). World Schizomida Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Available at: https://wac.nmbe.ch [Accessed on 12 July 2026]