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Family Phrynidae

Phrynus operculatus Tailless Whipscorpion - Paraphrynus carolynae Spider or scorpion? - Paraphrynus carolynae Tail-less Whip Scorpion - Paraphrynus carolynae unknown bug in Phoenix, Az. - Paraphrynus carolynae under the sofa resident - Phrynus operculatus Paraphrynus carolynae Arizona Tailless Whip Scorpion - Paraphrynus carolynae
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Amblypygi (Tailless Whipscorpions)
Family Phrynidae
Identification
Members of this family have flattened bodies, 3/8" (8-11 mm) long, with spiny pedipalps and slender, flat antennae-like legs. The cephalothorax is often wider than long, and the abdomen is generally shorter and narrower than the cephalothorax. The abdomen and cephalothorax are connected by a short stalk. The first pair of legs have long filamentous or whiplike tips. The remaining 3 pairs of legs are held to the side, crablike. (1)
Range
Phrynus marginemaculatus throughout Florida (more common as you go south), Paraphrynus raptator in the Florida Keys, Phrynus operculatus in parts of west Texas, and Paraphrynus carolynae in southern Arizona.
Habitat
Humid areas with cracks and crevices to hide in.
Food
Insects
Print References
Quintero, D. 1981. The amblypygid genus Phrynus in the Americas (Amblypygi, Phrynidae). J. Arachnol., 9: 117-166 - Info and key to genera
Internet References
Info provided by Lynette Schimming