Amblypygi

Last updated

Amblypygi
Temporal range: Bashkirian/Moscovian–Holocene 315–0  Ma [1]
Heterophrynus 02.jpg
Heterophrynus, Ecuador
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Clade: Tetrapulmonata
Order: Amblypygi
Thorell, 1883
Families
Amblypygi Distribution Map.png
Synonyms [2]

Amblypygi is an order of arachnids also known as whip spiders or tailless whip scorpions, not to be confused with whip scorpions or vinegaroons that belong to the related order Thelyphonida. The name "amblypygid" means "blunt tail", a reference to a lack of the flagellum that is otherwise seen in whip scorpions. Amblypygids possess no silk glands or venom. They rarely bite if threatened but can grab fingers with their pedipalps, resulting in thornlike puncture injuries.

Contents

As of 2023, five families, 17 genera, and around 260 species had been discovered and described. [3] They are found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, mainly in warm and humid environments. They like to stay protected and hidden within leaf litter, caves, or underneath bark. Some species are subterranean; all are nocturnal. Fossilized amblypygids have been found dating back to the Carboniferous period, such as Weygoldtina . [1]

Description

Detail of pedipalps AmblypygiDorsal.jpg
Detail of pedipalps
Parts of an amblypygid, from Pocock (1900) Phrynichus phipsoni - Pocock, 1900.png
Parts of an amblypygid, from Pocock (1900)

Body plan

Being arachnids, Amblypygi possess two body segments; the prosoma and the opisthosoma, (often referred to as the cephalothorax and abdomen), four pairs of legs, pedipalps, and chelicerae. Their bodies are broad and highly flattened, with a solid prosoma and a segmented opisthosoma. [5]

Amblypygids range from 5 to 16 centimetres (2.0 to 6.3 in) in legspan. [6] [7] Most species have eight eyes; a pair of median eyes at the front of the carapace above the chelicerae and 2 smaller clusters of three eyes each further back on each side.

The first pair of legs act as sensory organs and are not used for walking. The sensory legs are very thin and elongated, have numerous sensory receptors, and can extend several times the length of the body. [6] [5]

Pedipalps

Amblypygids have raptorial pedipalps modified for grabbing and retaining prey, much like the forelegs of mantises. [8] The pedipalps are generally covered in spines, used for impaling and capturing prey. They are kept folded in front of the prosoma when not in use. [5] Recent work suggests that the pedipalps display sexual dimorphism in their size and shape. [9]

Pedipalp anatomy varies strongly with species, with configurations often conforming to a particular style of prey capture. The pedipalps of some genera such as Euphrynicus are extremely long, and free of spines until near the extreme distal end of the appendage. [5]

Exoskeleton

Whip spiders are covered with a layer of a solidified secretion that forms a super-hydrophobic coating. [10] Studies on the spotted tailless whip scorpion also show their exoskeleton is enriched with several trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and zinc, which tends to accumulate as the individual gets older. The same trace elements are also present in the exoskeleton of the other members of Tetrapulmonata. [11]

Behavior

A Damon diadema mother carrying young Damon diadema female.jpg
A Damon diadema mother carrying young

Amblypygids have eight legs, but use only six for walking, often in a crab-like, sideways fashion. The front pair of legs are modified for use as antennae-like feelers, with many fine segments giving the appearance of a "whip". When a suitable prey is located with the antenniform legs, the amblypygid seizes its victim with large spines on the grasping pedipalps, impaling and immobilizing the prey. This is typically done while climbing the side of a vertical surface and looking downward at their prey. [12]

Pincer-like chelicerae then work to grind and chew the prey prior to ingestion. The tailless whip scorpion may go for over a month in which no food is eaten. Often this is due to pre-molt. Due to the lack of venom the tailless whip scorpion is very nervous in temperament, retreating away if any dangerous threat is sensed by the animal.[ citation needed ]

Comparing the front and back legs of an amblypygid Amblypygi-legs.jpg
Comparing the front and back legs of an amblypygid

Courtship involves the male depositing stalked spermatophores, which have one or more sperm masses at the tip, onto the ground, and using his pedipalps to guide the female over them. [13] She gathers the sperm and lays fertilized eggs into a sac carried under the abdomen, or opisthosoma. When the young hatch, they climb up onto the mother's back; any which fall off before their first molt will not survive.

Some species of amblypygids, particularly Phrynus marginemaculatus and Damon diadema , may be among the few examples of arachnids that exhibit social behavior. Research conducted at Cornell University suggests that mother amblypygids communicate with their young with her antenniform front legs, and the offspring reciprocate both with their mother and siblings. The ultimate function of this social behavior remains unknown. [14] Amblypygids hold territories that they defend from other individuals. [15]

The amblypygid diet mostly consists of arthropod prey, but these opportunistic predators have also been observed feeding on vertebrates. [6] Amblypygids generally do not feed for a period of time before, during, and after molting. Like other arachnids, an amblypygid will molt several times during its life. [6] Molting is done while hanging from the underside of a horizontal surface in order to use gravity to assist in separating the old exoskeleton from the animal.

As pets

Several genera of Amblypygi are sold and kept as pets, including Acanthophrynus , Charinus, Charon, Damon, Euphrynichus, Heterophrynus , Phrynus , Paraphrynus, and Phrynichus. [16] [5] Tailless whip scorpions are kept in tall enclosures with arboreal climbing surfaces to allow for two things: enough vertical space for climbing and molting, and enough space for heat to dissipate in order to keep the enclosure between 70 °F (21 °C) and 75 °F (24 °C). 5 centimetres (2.0 in) of substrate at the bottom of the enclosure is generally sufficient to allow for burrowing and also serves as a method to retain water in order to keep the humidity above 75%. Tailless whip scorpions live anywhere between 5 and 10 years. Feeding can include small insects such as crickets, mealworms, and roaches. [17] [18]

Genera

An amblypygid molting Molting process of Tail-less Whip Scorpion from Sri Lanka.jpg
An amblypygid molting
Damon johnstonii from West Africa Damon johnstoni - Lydekker, 1879.png
Damon johnstonii from West Africa

The following genera are recognised: [19] [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelicerata</span> Subphylum of arthropods

The subphylum Chelicerata constitutes one of the major subdivisions of the phylum Arthropoda. Chelicerates include the sea spiders, horseshoe crabs, and arachnids, as well as a number of extinct lineages, such as the eurypterids and chasmataspidids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arachnid</span> Class of arthropods

Arachnids are arthropods in the class Arachnida of the subphylum Chelicerata. Arachnida includes, among others, spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, camel spiders, whip spiders and vinegaroons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schizomida</span> Order of short-tailed whip-scorpions

Schizomida, also known as sprickets or short-tailed whip-scorpions, is an order of arachnids, generally less than 5 millimetres (0.20 in) in length. The order is not yet widely studied. E. O. Wilson has identified schizomids as among the "groups of organisms that desperately need experts to work on them."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uropygi</span> Order of arachnids known as whip scorpions

Uropygi is an arachnid order comprising invertebrates commonly known as whip scorpions or vinegaroons. They are often called uropygids. The name "whip scorpion" refers to their resemblance to true scorpions and possession of a whiplike tail, and "vinegaroon" refers to their ability when attacked to discharge an offensive, vinegar-smelling liquid, which contains acetic acid. The order may also be called Thelyphonida. Both names, Uropygi and Thelyphonida, may be used either in a narrow sense for the order of whip scorpions, or in a broad sense which includes the order Schizomida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricinulei</span> Order of obscure arachnids

Ricinulei is a small order of arachnids. Like most arachnids, they are predatory; eating small arthropods. They occur today in west-central Africa (Ricinoides) and the Americas from South America to as far north as Texas, where they either inhabit leaf-litter or caves. As of 2022, 103 extant species of ricinuleids have been described worldwide, all in the single family Ricinoididae. In older works they are sometimes referred to as Podogona. Due to their obscurity they do not have a proper common-name, though in academic literature they are occasionally referred to as hooded tickspiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pedipalp</span> Appendage of chelicerate

Pedipalps are the secondary pair of forward appendages among chelicerates – a group of arthropods including spiders, scorpions, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. The pedipalps are lateral to the chelicerae ("jaws") and anterior to the first pair of walking legs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solifugae</span> Order of arachnids

Solifugae is an order of arachnids known variously as solifuges, sun spiders, camel spiders, and wind scorpions. The order includes more than 1,000 described species in about 147 genera. Despite the common names, they are neither true scorpions nor true spiders. Because of this, it's less ambiguous to call them "solifuges". Most species of solifuge live in dry climates and feed opportunistically on ground-dwelling arthropods and other small animals. The largest species grow to a length of 12–15 cm (5–6 in), including legs. A number of urban legends exaggerate the size and speed of solifuges, and their potential danger to humans, which is negligible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xiphosura</span> Order of marine chelicerates

Xiphosura is an order of arthropods related to arachnids. They are more commonly known as horseshoe crabs. They first appeared in the Hirnantian. Currently, there are only four living species. Xiphosura contains one suborder, Xiphosurida, and several stem-genera.

<i>Plesiosiro</i> Extinct genus of arachnids

Plesiosiro is an extinct arachnid genus known exclusively from nine specimens from the Upper Carboniferous of Coseley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom. The genus is monotypic, represented only by the species Plesiosiro madeleyi described by Reginald Innes Pocock in his important 1911 monograph on British Carboniferous arachnids. It is the only known member of the order Haptopoda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trigonotarbida</span> Extinct order of arachnids

The order Trigonotarbida is a group of extinct arachnids whose fossil record extends from the late Silurian to the early Permian. These animals are known from several localities in Europe and North America, as well as a single record from Argentina. Trigonotarbids can be envisaged as spider-like arachnids, but without silk-producing spinnerets. They ranged in size from a few millimetres to a few centimetres in body length and had segmented abdomens (opisthosoma), with the dorsal exoskeleton (tergites) across the backs of the animals' abdomens, which were characteristically divided into three or five separate plates. Probably living as predators on other arthropods, some later trigonotarbid species were quite heavily armoured and protected themselves with spines and tubercles. About seventy species are currently known, with most fossils originating from the Carboniferous coal measures.

<i>Phrynus marginemaculatus</i> Species of whip scorpion

Phrynus marginemaculatus, simply known as spotted tailless whip scorpion is a species of amblypygid found in southern Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola. They are nocturnal predators that hide during the day in small retreats.

<i>Phrynus</i> Genus of whip scorpions

Phrynus is a genus of whip spiders found in tropical and subtropical regions, mostly in the new world.

<i>Phrynus longipes</i> Species of amblypygid

Phrynus longipes is a species of amblypygid native to the Caribbean region. They are protective of their territory, using their pedipalps to deter predators or unwanted visitors. Being nocturnal predators, they take shelter during the day and hunt primarily at night. Phrynus longipes feeds on primarily arthropods, but has been observed to prey upon small vertebrates.

<i>Paraphrynus</i> Genus of whip scorpions

Paraphrynus is a genus of whip spiders, also known as tailless whip scorpions, of the family Phrynidae. It is distributed from the southwestern United States to Central America, including several Caribbean islands. Most species are endemic to Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phrynidae</span> Family of whipspiders

Phrynidae is a family of amblypygid arachnida arthropods also known as whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions. Phrynidae species are found in tropical and subtropical regions in North and South America. Some species are subterranean; all are nocturnal. At least some species of Phrynidae hold territories that they defend from other individuals.

<i>Acanthophrynus</i> Genus of amblypygi

Acanthophrynus is a genus of tailless whipscorpion in the family Phrynidae containing a single species, Acanthophrynus coronatus. This species is sometimes kept as a pet.

Phrynichus is a genus of tailless whipscorpions in the family Phrynichidae. There are about 16 described species in Phrynichus.

<i>Weygoldtina</i> Extinct genus of whip scorpions

Weygoldtina is an extinct genus of tailless whip scorpion known from Carboniferous period, and the only known member of the family Weygoldtinidae. It is known from two species described from North America and England and originally described in the genus Graeophonus, which is now considered a nomen dubium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paracharontidae</span> Family of whip scorpions

Paracharontidae is an arachnid family within the order Amblypygi. Paracharontidae and the extinct Weygoldtinidae from the Carboniferous form the suborder Paleoamblypygi, the sister group to the remaining Amblypygi. The family contains two genera: Paracharon, containing the single species Paracharon caecus Hansen, 1921 from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, and Jorottui with the single species Jorottui ipuanai from Colombia in northern South America. Paracharonopsis from the Eocene (Ypresian) aged Cambay amber of India was initially assigned to this family but this was later questioned and it has since been reassigned to Euamblypygi. Both living species are troglobites, having no eyes, with P. caecus living in termite nests, while J. ipuanai inhabits caves.

References

  1. 1 2 Garwood, Russell J.; Dunlop, Jason A.; Knecht, Brian J.; Hegna, Thomas A. (2017). "The phylogeny of fossil whip spiders". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 17 (1): 105. Bibcode:2017BMCEE..17..105G. doi: 10.1186/s12862-017-0931-1 . PMC   5399839 . PMID   28431496.
  2. ↑ Harvey, M.S. (2013). "Amblypygi Thorell 1883". Whip spiders of the World. version 1.0. Western Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ↑ "World Amblypygi Catalog". World Amblypygi Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  4. ↑ R. I. Pocok (1900). Fauna of British India. Arachnida.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 McMonigle, Orin (2013). Breeding the world's largest living arachnid: amblypygid biology, natural history, and captive husbandry. Greenville, Ohio: Coachwhip Publications. ISBN   978-1-61646-183-6.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Chapin, KJ; Hebets, EA (2016). "Behavioral ecology of amblypygids". Journal of Arachnology. 44 (1): 1–14. doi:10.1636/V15-62.1. S2CID   29923727.
  7. ↑ Weygoldt, Peter (2000). Whip Spiders (Chelicerata: Amblypygi): Their Biology, Morphology and Systematics. Apollo Books. ISBN   8788757463.
  8. ↑ Robert D. Barnes (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. pp. 617–619. ISBN   0-03-056747-5.
  9. ↑ McLean, C.J.; Garwood, R.J.; Brassey, C.A. (2019). "Sexual dimorphism in the size and shape of the raptorial pedipalps of Giant Whip Spiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi)". Journal of Zoology. 310 (1): 45–54. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12726 . ISSN   0952-8369.
  10. ↑ Whip spiders (Amblypygi) become water-repellent by a colloidal secretion that self-assembles into hierarchical microstructures
  11. ↑ Elemental enrichment of the exoskeleton of the whip spider Phrynus marginemaculatus (Arachnida: Amblypygi)
  12. ↑ Ladle, Richard J.; Velander, Kathryn (2003). "Fishing behavior in a giant whip spider". The Journal of Arachnology. 31: 154–156. doi:10.1636/0161-8202(2003)031[0154:FBIAGW]2.0.CO;2. S2CID   86012520 – via ResearchGate.
  13. ↑ Peter Weygoldt (1999). "Spermatophores and the evolution of female genitalia in whip spiders (Chelicerata, Amblypygi)" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology . 27 (1): 103–116. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-17.
  14. ↑ Rayor, Linda (December 2017). "Social Behavior in Amblypygids, and a Reassessment of Arachnid Social Patterns". Journal of Arachnology. 31 (12): 399–421. doi:10.1636/S04-23.1. S2CID   34165769.
  15. ↑ Chapin KJ; Hill-Lindsay S (2015). "Territoriality evidenced by asymmetric intruder-holder motivation in an amblypygid". Behavioural Processes . 122: 110–115. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2015.11.014. PMID   26616673. S2CID   37584495.
  16. ↑ "Tail-less Whip Scorpion - Damon medius". exotic-pets.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  17. ↑ "Tailless Whip Scorpion Care Sheet". Reptile Centre. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Tailless Whip Scorpion: Facts, Lifespan, Care, Feeding, & Breeding". AllPetsDirectory. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  19. ↑ Mark S. Harvey (2003). "Order Amblypygi". Catalogue of the smaller arachnid orders of the world: Amblypygi, Uropygi, Schizomida, Palpigradi, Ricinulei and Solifugae. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 3–58. ISBN   978-0-643-06805-6.
  20. ↑ Engel, M.S.; Grimaldi, D.A. (2014). "Whipspiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi) in amber from the Early Eocene and mid-Cretaceous, including maternal care". Novitates Paleoentomologicae. 9: 1–17.
  21. 1 2 Dunlop, Jason A. (2018-03-01). "Systematics of the Coal Measures whip spiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi)". Zoologischer Anzeiger. In honor of Peter Weygoldt. 273: 14–22. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2017.11.004. ISSN   0044-5231.
  22. ↑ Moreno-González, Jairo A.; Gutierrez-Estrada, Miguel; Prendini, Lorenzo (2023-06-28). "Systematic Revision of the Whip Spider Family Paracharontidae (Arachnida: Amblypygi) with Description of a New Troglobitic Genus and Species from Colombia". American Museum Novitates (4000): 1–36. doi:10.1206/4000.1. ISSN   0003-0082. S2CID   259275494.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.