Acanthophrynus

Acanthophrynus
A specimen of Acanthophrynus coronatus standing on a human palm, facing the camera
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Amblypygi
Family: Phrynidae
Genus: Acanthophrynus
Kraepelin, 1899
Species:
A. coronatus
Binomial name
Acanthophrynus coronatus
(Butler, 1873)
A. coronatus range by state
(range in Sonora is limited to the south of the state)

Acanthophrynus is a genus of tailless whipscorpion in the family Phrynidae containing a single species, Acanthophrynus coronatus.[1] This species is sometimes kept as a pet.[2]

Taxonomy

Acanthophrynus coronatus was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1873 under the name Phrynus coronatus. A new genus was later described for the species by Kraepelin in 1899.[2] Genetic comparison of populations of A. coronatus suggests that the species may actually represent more than one clade, with genetic divergence equivalent to that between different species in other genera.[1]

Description

Male Acanthophrynus coronatus in captivity

Acanthophrynus coronatus is a very large amblypygid, with a body length of up to 45mm[3][2]. They have light red pedipalps, and a light brown to brown prosoma, the opisthosoma being of the same color with some darker brown stripping. All of the legs are a lighter brown than the prosoma, reaching almost a yellow color[2]. A. coronatus is one of a few whipspider species capable of stridulation when threatened, rubbing its chelicerae together to produce an audible hiss.[4][5]

Distribution and habitat

Acanthophrynus coronatus is found in Mexico, inhabiting deciduous tropical forests of the Pacific coastal region from southern Sonora to Oaxaca, including Baja California,[2] at elevations between 0 and 1900m above sea level, though its rare they surpass 1500m. The average annual temperature in this regions are 20 to 29 °C, with average rainfall between 300mm and 1800mm, this of course depending on the region.[6]

Behavior

This species, like all in the family Phrynidae, is nocturnal, remaining mostly in hiding during the day; they are mostly tree dwelling, and will rarely be seen on the ground. When kept as pets, they are best kept solitary, although they have some tolerance for those of the same egg sack. Pairs can also be kept together for multiple days, but this of course comes with risks. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 Schramm, Frederic D; Valdez-Mondragón, Alejandro; Prendini, Lorenzo (2021). "Volcanism and palaeoclimate change drive diversification of the world's largest whip spider (Amblypygi)". Molecular Ecology. 30 (12): 2872–2890. Bibcode:2021MolEc..30.2872S. doi:10.1111/mec.15924. PMID 33881187.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 de Armas, Luis F. (2006). "LOS AMBLIPÍGIDOS O TENDARAPOS DE MÉXICO (ARACHNIDA: AMBLYPYGI)" (PDF). Sea-Entomologia. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  3. ↑ Weygoldt, Peter (2000). Whip Spiders (Chelicerata: Amblypygi): Their Biology, Morphology and Systematics. Apollo Books. ISBN 8788757463.
  4. ↑ Weygoldt, Peter (2000). Whip Spiders (Chelicerata: Amblypygi): Their Biology, Morphology and Systematics. Apollo Books. ISBN 8788757463.
  5. ↑ Shear, William (1970). "Stridulation in Acanthophrynus Coronatus (Butler) (Amblypygi, Tarantulidae)". Research Gate. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  6. ↑ MUSEO DE LAS CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS IZTACALA "ENRIQUE BELTRÁN". "SELVA BAJA CADUCIFOLIA (BOSQUE TROPICAL CADUCIFOLIO)" (PDF). UNAM. Retrieved Jun 7, 2022.
  7. ↑ "ficha de cuidados". www.shny.fr. Retrieved 2022-06-08.