SUPERSTITIONIIDAE
Stahnke, 1940

This family includes 4 genera and 9 species [Updated 07.05.03]. Superstitioniids are some very interesting scorpions, most of which are troglobites (cave dwelling species). Some of them are found in wet caves in subtropical parts of Mexico. These scorpions lack eyes and pigments. One species has been found at depths of about 800 meters below the surface (the strange thing about this scorpion is that it is quite large (around 70 mm long) and is pigmented. Other species in this family are found in leaf litter (some of these also lack eyes and pigmentation).

The scorpions in this family are found in North America (Mexico and Southwestern USA).

"Superstitionia" is named for the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, where the first specimens were collected by Herbert Stahnke (at "Don's Camp" as told by Herbert Stahnke to Kari McWest).

Only one species, Superstitionia donensis, has been reported to occur in captivity.

No data has been found about the venom of these scorpions, but, like S. donensis (McWest, pers. obs.), they are probably harmless.

Left: Superstitionia donensis photo by Dr. Graeme Lowe (C).
Right: Sotanochactas elliotti photo by Robert Mitchell (C).

SPECIES FILES:
This list of genera and species is based on Fet et al.(2000). Subspecies is not included in the list. I try to update the list as additions and changes are published. * denotes changes after Fet et al. (2000). I will be grateful for information about new development in the taxonomy of this family. For information about synonyms and bibliographies, see Fet et al. (2000)

Superstitionia Stahnke, 1940
S. donensis Stahnke, 1940
Alacran Francke, 1982
A. tartarus Francke, 1982
Sotanochactas Francke, 1986
S. elliotti (Mitchell, 1971)
Typhlochactas Mitchell, 1971
T. cavicola Francke, 1986
T. granulosus Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998
T. mitchelli Sissom, 1988
T. reddelli Mitchell, 1968
T. rhodesi Mitchell, 1968
T. sylvestris Francke, 1986

Jan Ove Rein (C) 2003