A new genus of Australian pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae: Lamprochernetinae) associated with insectivorous bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

The pseudoscorpion subfamily Lamprochernetinae is currently represented by 12 genera and is found throughout many regions of the world but, apart from a single introduced species, is absent from South America. Most species are free-living, but some are associated with mammals as commensals in their pelage and nests. Four adult male specimens of a large, robust chernetid have been found attached to insectivorous bats in eastern Australia that show similarities with Megachernes Beier, 1932 but which differ in some key features. They are here referred to a new genus, Enigmachernes, with the type species, E. parnabyi sp. nov. collected from the pelage of Falsistrellus tasmaniensis (Gould, 1858) and E. dissidens sp. nov. collected from Vespadelus regulus (Thomas, 1906). The host species of Megachernes penicillatus is corrected to Antechinus spp. [either Antechinus godmani (Thomas, 1923) or Antechinus adustus (Thomas, 1923)] and that of Megachernes queenslandicus to Rattus fuscipes coracius Thomas, 1923. ZooBank registration: https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/5A1C1ED6-43C3-4986-9314-1B4D81F5461A.