Phrynus longipes

Phrynus longipes is a species of Amblypygid found in the Caribbean.[1] They are nocturnal predators that hide during the day in small retreats, and are sit-and-wait predators at night. P. longipes can be found in subtropical and tropical forests, and caves within their range.[2]

Phrynus longipes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Order:
Amblypygi
Family:
Phrynidae
Genus:
Phrynus
Species:
P. longipes
Binomial name
Phrynus longipes
Pocock, 1894

Appearance

The body of P. longipes can measure up to 19 millimetres (0.75 in) long, but its front legs can reach 250 millimetres (9.8 in) long.[2] Like other Amblypygi, Phrynus longipes has eight pairs of legs with six used for walking and the first employed as sensory organs for detecting prey and navigating their environment. Its cephalothorax is wider than it is long and is outfitted with eight eyes. One pair of eyes is located in front and 3 more pairs on the sides. They produce no venom, but instead have arm-like pedipalps and a pair of smaller chelicerae.

Behavior

P. longipes use 3 pairs of ambulatory legs to move sideways as a crab would and 1 pair for sensory purposes. They capture prey using, arm-like pedipalps. P. longipes engage in agonistic contests over territories, where opponents use a series of displays to communicate their resource holding potential to wouldbe usurpers.[2] Additionally, P. longipes is occasionally cannibalistic.[2]

Reproduction

During courtship, the male and female P. longipes exhibiting ritualized displays in a stereotyped sequence. Males deposit a spermatophore that the female retrieves to fertilize eggs. After a few weeks to months she exudes a brood sac containing from 40 to 90 eggs. Newly hatched offspring move to the mothers dorsal opisthosoma before molting once more into a free-living stage.

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References
  1. Diomedes Quintero, Jr. (1981). "The amblypygid genus Phrynus in the Americas (Amblypygi, Phrynidae)" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology. 9: 117–166.
  2. Kenneth J. Chapin (2015). "Cave-epigean behavioral variation of the whip spider Phrynus longipes (Arachnida: Amblypygi) evidenced by activity, vigilance, and aggression". Journal of Arachnology. 43: 214–219.
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