- Joined
- Feb 24, 2018
- Messages
- 308
Back in September of 2020 I purchased an Amblypygi at a pet store under the impression it was a Paraphrynus mexicanus, currently known as Paraphrynus carolynae. Recently I noticed there is NO WAY this is a Paraphrynus as there is only one small spine between the two largest ones on the pedipalp tibia. So what is this thing?
Lucky for me the critter molted a few weeks after I brought it home.
I also have a copy of the book WHIP SPIDERS Their Biology, Morphology and Systematics by Peter Weygoldt Apollo Books 2000 ISBN 87-88757-46-3
Referring to section 4.1 on page 21 of that book I made the following observations:
No pulvilli on walking leg tarsi
Small round tubercles cover only a small part of the intercoxal ventral side
No ventral apophysis on the trochanter of the pedipalp (right one pictured).
Pedipalp tibia have five or six dorsal spines. Only one smaller spine between the two longest.
Therefore I am confident this is a member of the genus Phrynus.
I have no idea where this thing originated from and many species are easily confused so until I can read through species descriptions and properly ID this thing it's officially a Phrynus sp. unknown.
So to anyone who bought a Paraphrynus mexicanus or Paraphrynus carolynae within the last six months or so check your tibial spines.
I'm also not a professional taxonimist so by all means if I made a mistake let me know.
Here's some current pictures of the Phrynus unknown, body size is approximately between 3/4 to 1 inch.
Lucky for me the critter molted a few weeks after I brought it home.
I also have a copy of the book WHIP SPIDERS Their Biology, Morphology and Systematics by Peter Weygoldt Apollo Books 2000 ISBN 87-88757-46-3
Referring to section 4.1 on page 21 of that book I made the following observations:
PspProsoma.jpg
Intercoxal ventral side with small round tubercles
PspVentralRightPedipalpTrochanter.jpg
Ventral side, trochanter of right pedipalp without ventral apophysis
PspPedipalps.jpg
Dorsal view of pedipalps. One smaller spine between the two longest
Therefore I am confident this is a member of the genus Phrynus.
I have no idea where this thing originated from and many species are easily confused so until I can read through species descriptions and properly ID this thing it's officially a Phrynus sp. unknown.
So to anyone who bought a Paraphrynus mexicanus or Paraphrynus carolynae within the last six months or so check your tibial spines.
I'm also not a professional taxonimist so by all means if I made a mistake let me know.
Here's some current pictures of the Phrynus unknown, body size is approximately between 3/4 to 1 inch.
Last edited: