An overview of the systematics of smaller arachnid orders (Opilioacariformes, Ricinulei, Palpigradi, Uropygi, Amblypygi, Schizomida, Solifugae and Pseudoscorpiones) is provided, along with data on numbers of recognized families, genera and species for each group. The micro-diverse orders, Opilioacariformes (1 family, 9 genera, 19 species), Ricinulei (1 family, 3 genera, 55 species), Palpigradi (2 families, 6 genera, 78 species), Uropygi (1 family, 16 genera, 103 species), Amblypygi (5 families, 17 genera, 136 species) and Schizomida (2 families, 34 genera, 205 species), are amongst the smallest of all terrestrial arthropod orders. The meso-diverse orders, Solifugae (12 families, 140 genera, 1,087 species) and Pseudoscorpiones (24 families, 425 genera, 3,239 species) -along with the Scorpiones (1,279 species) and Opiliones (c. 6,000 species) which are not dealt with in this contribution -are dwarfed by the three mega-diverse arachnid orders, Araneae (c. 36,000 species), Parasitiformes and Acariformes (with a combined total of c. 48,000).

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Several legume tree and shrub species of the genus Prosopis from South and Central America have been distributed around the dry regions of the world over the past 200 years. The first documented introduction of Prosopis in Kenya was in 1973, since when it has spread widely, adversely affecting natural habitats, rangelands and cultivated areas. P. juliflora is the most common naturalised species in Kenya, but P. pallida also occurs. In contrast to their undesirable effects as invasive weeds, many Prosopis species are valuable multipurpose resources in their native range, providing timber, firewood, livestock feed, human food, shade, shelter and soil improvement. The pods, which are high in sugars, carbohydrates and protein, have been a historic source of food for human populations in North and South America providing flour and other edible products. However, this indigenous knowledge has not followed the Prosopis trees and the fruit are unused or provide only fodder for livestock in most of Africa and Asia. Although Prosopis will not easily be eradicated in Kenya, a degree of control may be achieved through intensive utilisation of tree products and by improved management. In 2005, a project was launched in Kenya to develop income-generating activities using Prosopis. A workshop in 2006 explored the possibility of producing locally-acceptable food from Prosopis flour. Taste tests and feedback on the different recipes indicated that all of the food made with 20% Prosopis f lour had a pleasant taste. Preliminary analyses of Prosopis f lour samples from Kenya indicate good nutritional properties, but also the presence of aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A. Further study is required to determine toxin levels in freshly harvested pods, and in pods and flour after various periods of storage, and to develop appropriate harvesting and storage methods to maximise nutritional benefit and minimise risk to human health.

Harvey, M.S. 1988. Pseudoscorpions from the krakalau Islands and adjacent regions, Indonesia (Chelicerata: Pseudoscorpionida). Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 49: 309-353. Eighteen pseudoscorpion species are recorded from Krakalau islands and adjacent regions: Tyrannochthonius krakatau sp.nov., T. bagussp. nov., Lagynochthonius kapisp. now, L.johni (Redikorzev), /.. thorntonisp. nov., /.. hamulus sp. nov. (Chthoniidae), Garypus maldivensis Pocock (Garypidae). Geogarypus javanus (Tullgren), G. albus Beier (Geogarypidae), Amblyolpiiini helium Chamberlin, Beierolpium oceanicum (With) (Olpiidae), Metawithiusyurii (Redikorzev) (Withiidae), Paralemnus assimills Beier (Atemnidac), Ilaplochernes warburgi (Tullgren), //. kraepeiini (Tullgren), Aliochernes liwa sp. nov., Verrucachemes oca Chamberlin, and Smeringochernes sp. (Chemetidae). All species except the last are fully described. The following synonymies are proposed: Geogarypus formosanus Beier, G. audyi Beier and G. javanus takensis Beier with G. javanus (Tullgren); Xenolpium oceanicum palauense Beier, X. oceanicum reducturn Beier and X. oceanicum latum Beier with Beierolpium oceanicum (With); and Microchernes orientaiis Beier and M. insularis Beier with Verrucachernes oca Chamberlin. Their biogeography and ecology are discussed. Oralemnus proximus Beier (Atemnidac) is recorded from .lava for the first time, based on a specimen included in the type series o(I luploehernes kraepeiini. Contents

Long-branch attraction is a systematic artifact that results in erroneous groupings of fast-evolving taxa. The combination of short, deep internodes in tandem with LBA artifacts has produced empirically intractable parts of the Tree of Life. One such group is the arthropod subphylum Chelicerata, whose backbone phylogeny has remained unstable despite improvements in phylogenetic methods and genome-scale datasets. Pseudoscorpion placement is particularly variable across datasets and analytical frameworks, with this group either clustering with other long-branch orders or with Arachnopulmonata (scorpions and tetrapulmonates). To surmount LBA, we investigated the effect of taxonomic sampling via sequential deletion of basally branching pseudoscorpion superfamilies, as well as varying gene occupancy thresholds in supermatrices. We show that concatenated supermatrices and coalescent-based summary species tree approaches support a sister group relationship of pseudoscorpions and scorpions, when more of the basally branching taxa are sampled. Matrix completeness had demonstrably less influence on tree topology. As an external arbiter of phylogenetic placement, we leveraged the recent discovery of an ancient genome duplication in the common ancestor of Arachnopulmonata as a litmus test for competing hypotheses of pseudoscorpion relationships. We generated a high-quality developmental transcriptome and the first genome for pseudoscorpions to assess the incidence of arachnopulmonate-specific duplications (e.g., homeobox genes and miRNAs). Our results support the inclusion of pseudoscorpions in Arachnopulmonata, as the sister group of scorpions. Panscorpiones (new name) is proposed for the clade uniting Scorpiones and Pseudoscorpiones.

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-A survey of the ground-dwelling araneomorph spider assemblages of the Southern Carnarvon Basin revealed a total of 33 families. Apart from the Gnaphosidae and Zodariidae which were not analysed due to timeconstraints, we recognized a total of 285 species placed in 146 genera. Very few taxa could be assigned to existing genera or species, reflecting poor taxonomic knowledge of many groups of spiders. Patterns in species composition across the study area were correlated with rainfall gradients, and a discrete claypan fauna was detected. Vicariance events seem to explain part of the patterning evident. However, strongly localised patterns in species composition were also evident.