Amblypigid ID help needed ! 🖤🙏

[Mindibun]

I have the Orin McMonigle "Bible" and I am STILL not sure. Need help, please!

Bought at an expo, but all I know is that Mom was wild-caught and from "South America." That is all the seller knew. I've heard opinions leaning towards whitei, but that feels very wrong. Look at the colors.
Look at the babies - no white!

 

[wizentrop]

Phrynus whitei is named after a person, not the color white.

The main two possible options for this one are Phrynus whitei or Phrynus maesi. My bet is on P. whitei, but without more details about its origin and extreme closeup shots of its body parts there is no way to tell for certain.

 

[Mindibun]

"Phrynus whitei is named after a person, not the color white."

I do know this. But there is still some confusion over "the white around their eyes" at various times. Its a fair point good thing to say, for sure. I only specified that because of the various comments I've gotten from others that don't understand that, and their various descriptors that just don't feel right.

Again, I've been reading and re-reading McMonigle just trying to take a guess. Nothing looks *quite right.* This one is very dark. Banding on legs, yes, but faint (because she's so dark). It's 5 prongs on the pedipalps (why can't I think of the right word? "Tines?" "Prongs?" ... Y'all know what I mean )

 

[wizentrop]

I am sure you are aware that P. whitei is a widely distributed and highly variable species (which might turn out to be several hidden species in the future, who knows).
The ones I breed from Honduras are almost entirely black with no eye spots. Very similar to yours. In other localities the animals can have banded legs, eye spots, be pale grey or brown. It really depends where they are from. And also the colors are different in juvenile compared to adults, something you can observe over time as the babies you got gain size. Good luck with them, it's a lovely species!

 

[Mindibun]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate all the help!!

 

[Brewser]

Mysterious Amblypygid, Very Dark with Tannish undertones could be Phrynus whitei.
The Babies are even more striking with the Black & Green.
Best Wishes, To You and Yours