''Garypus titanius'', the giant pseudoscorpion, is the largest species of

pseudoscorpion Pseudoscorpions, also known as false scorpions or book scorpions, are small, scorpion-like arachnids belonging to the order Pseudoscorpiones, also known as Pseudoscorpionida or Chelonethida. Pseudoscorpions are generally beneficial to humans sin ...

—small, scorpion-looking creatures—in the world. Critically endangered, it is restricted to

Boatswain Bird Island Boatswain Bird Island, also spelt Boatswainbird Island, is a small island some off the east coast of Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean with an area of approximately . It is administered from Georgetown on Ascension, which is part of ...

, a small rocky island off

Ascension Island Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island, 7°56′ south of the Equator in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is about from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America. It is governed as part of the British Overseas Territory o ...

in the South Atlantic Ocean. Pseudoscorpions are venomous

arachnids Arachnida () is a Class (biology), class of joint-legged invertebrate animals (arthropods), in the subphylum Chelicerata. Arachnida includes, among others, spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, pseudoscorpions, opiliones, harvestmen, Solifugae, came ...

(a group that includes spiders,

ticks Ticks (order Ixodida) are parasitic arachnids that are part of the mite superorder Parasitiformes. Adult ticks are approximately 3 to 5 mm in length depending on age, sex, species, and "fullness". Ticks are external parasites, living by ...

, and

scorpions Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always end ...

) and are generally tiny—around 3 mm (.1 in) long. The giant pseudoscorpion, though, can grow to five times that size at 11 mm (.5 in). It lives among seabird colonies, feeding mainly at night on smaller prey such as insects. It belongs to the Garypidae family. The giant pseudoscorpion is threatened by non-native insects and animals, such as mice. It has died out on the larger Ascension Island, a remote volcanic island and

British overseas territory The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen dependent territory, territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remna ...

that was discovered in 1501.

References

Garypinidae Animals described in 1861 Fauna of Ascension Island {{Pseudoscorpion-stub