Genus Protolophus

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Remarks · Print References · Internet References

Harvestman up high on a flower - Protolophus tuberculatus

Protolophus sp. - Protolophus niger - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)

Class Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order Opiliones (Harvestmen)

Suborder Eupnoi

Superfamily Phalangioidea

Family Protolophidae

Genus Protolophus

Numbers

8 described species in genus Protolophus:

P. cockerelli, P. differens, P. niger - G & G 1942

P. dixiensis - Chamerberlin 1925

P. longipes - Schenkel 1951

P. rossi - G & G 1943

P. singularis, P. tuberculatus - Banks 1893

Genus badly in need of revision

Identification

Immatures and adult females with medial "thumb" process on patella of pedipalp. *This character also found in some Phalangiidae, and some Trachyrhinus*

Male palpal femur and tibia robust, sometimes greatly enlarged; male palpal tarsus narrowing abruptly; palpal tarsus generally equal to or shorter than tibia

Range

Pacific States (California, Oregon, Washington), Arizona, southern Utah

Habitat

Open forest and woodlands, grasslands

Season

Adults mature in the Spring + early Summer

Remarks

Some Protolophus species show evidence for male dimorphism. Some males in the population will have massive, robust pedipalps, while other adult males have slender "female-like" palps (*but lack the patellar apophysis seen in females).

Print References

Goodnight, CJ. & ML. Goodnight, 1942. The genus Protolophus (Phalangida). American Museum Novitates, New York, 1157: 1-7. (PDF from AMNH Digital Library)

Goodnight, CJ. & ML. Goodnight, 1943. New and little known phalangids from the United States. The American Midland Naturalist, Notre Dame, Indiana, 29(3): 643-656. online PDF

Schenkel, E. (1951) Spinnentiere aus dem westlichen Nordamerika, gesammelt von Dr. Hans Schenkel-Rudin. Zweiter Teil. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel, 62, 24–62. online PDF

Internet References

~ calphotos.berkeley.edu - Comparison image.

Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 25 February, 2009 - 9:19pm
Additional contributions by mhedin, Tyler Hedlund
Last updated 29 April, 2022 - 11:07am

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