Metasolpuga

Metasolpuga is a genus of solifuge or sun spider.[1] The monotypic genus contains the species Metasolpuga picta Kraepelin 1899 which is native to Namibia.[2] It is one of several large, diurnal solifuge species that occur in the arid regions of southern Africa.[3]

Metasolpuga
M. picta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Order:
Solifugae
Family:
Solpugidae
Subfamily:
Solpuginae
Genus:
Metasolpuga

Roewer, 1934

Its habitat is interdune valleys of the Namib Desert. They are active when ground surface temperatures are between 40 and 61°C. In experimental conditions they become lethargic at 20 ± 1°C, and at 5 to 10°C they become completely torpid.[3] During mid-winter it is believed to become lethargic in burrows for days or weeks. Egg depositing has been recorded during early spring and late summer.[3] Data suggests that male M. picta are short lived and die after mating season due to high energy demands and low food intake. [4]

References
  1. "Solpuginae". BioLib.cz. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  2. "Genus Metasolpuga". The Solifugae Website. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  3. Wharton, Robert A. (1987). "Biology of the diurnal Metasolpuga picta (Kraepelin) (Soligugae, Solpugidae) compared with that of nocturnal species" (PDF). J. Arachnol. (14): 363–383. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  4. Wharton, Robert A. (1986). "Biology of the Diurnal Metasolpuga picta (Kraepelin) (Solifugae, Solpugidae) Compared with That of Nocturnal Species". The Journal of Arachnology. 14 (3): 363–383. ISSN 0161-8202. JSTOR 3705676.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.