Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Order Amblypygi - Tailless Whipscorpions

paraphrynus mexicanus - Phrynus operculatus What Species? - Phrynus marginemaculatus Paraphrynus mexicanus? - Paraphrynus carolynae Paraphrynus mexicanus? - Paraphrynus carolynae Phrynus marginemaculatus Black six legged bug with huge antenna - Paraphrynus carolynae Paraphrynus carolynae? - Paraphrynus carolynae Paraphrynus carolynae? - Paraphrynus carolynae
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Amblypygi (Tailless Whipscorpions)
Other Common Names
Whipspiders
Cave Spiders
Explanation of Names
Greek amblys (αμβλυς)- "dull, blunt" + pyge (πυγη)- "rump"

This refers to the lack of any tail as in some other related arachnids. (AAS)
However, all species have small tail segments that functions in molting, so they are actually without a flagellum, not without a tail, so "flagellumless whipscorpion" would be more appropriate.
Numbers
5 families, 150 species worldwide. (1)(2)(3)
Size
5-45mm (1)(4)
Identification
Spiderlike
Large, powerful and spiny raptorial pedipalps are used for capturing prey. Unlike scorpions, pseudoscorpions, and whipscorpions the two tarsal segments at the end of the pedipalp do not form an opposable claw or pincer.
Wide prosoma (cephalothorax)
Flattenned overall appearance
No spinnerets
First pair of legs are very long and whiplike and function like antennae
Eight eyes
Range
Chiefly in the Southern states. Arizona, Texas (Big Bend Region), and Florida.
Habitat
Nocturnal
Under bark, stones, in leaf litter and in caves
May enter houses (5)
Food
Insects and other arthropods (1)
Life Cycle
Males construct a spermatophore which the female picks up with her genitalia. The mother broods the eggs in a specialized broodsac firmly attached to the opisthosomal sternites and held in place by clawlike sclerites below the genital operculum. This period lasts three to four months and includes the transformation to postembryo inside the broodsac. The eggs are never exposed to air and is functionally similar to live bearing. After hatching, the first instars climb on to the mother's back and are carried around until the molt to second instar which is approximately ten days. (1)(6)
Remarks
No venom glands (7), and do not sting or bite (1). If disturbed, they scuttle sideways (2).
Internet References
Amblypygi resources page from the International Society of Arachnology
Photo gallery from the American Arachnological Society
Works Cited
1.DK Handbooks: Insects, Spiders and Other Terrestrial Arthropods
George C. McGavin, Steve Gorton, Louis N. Sorkin. 2000. Dorling Kindersley Publishing.
2.Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife
Don E. Wilson, David Burnie. 2001. Dorling Kindersley Publishing.
3.Amblypygi
Weygoldt P. 2002. In: Adis J., ed. Amazonia Arachnids and Myriapoda. Pensoft Publishers Sofia, Bulgaria: 293-301.
4.Whip spiders: their biology, morphology and systematics (Chelicerata: Amblypygi)
Weygoldt P. 2000. Apollo Books, Stenstrup. 164 pp.
5.Spiders and Their Kin: A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press
Herbert W. Levi, Lorna R. Levi, Nicholas Strekalovsky. 2001. St. Martin's Press.
6.Whipscorpions and whipspiders
McMonigle O. 2008. Elytra and Antenna; 40pp. +2 color plates.
7.Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects
Norman F. Johnson, Charles A. Triplehorn. 2004. Brooks Cole.