tiki Ryan Photographic - Amblypygi - Tailless whip scorpions

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Order Amblypygi

 

This is an ancient order of arachnids. Currently there are five families, 17 genera and around 155 species known. Although scary-looking, these creatures are not venomous, but they are armed with grasping, spiked pedipalps which, in the larger species, could probably cause minor injury. Primarily nocturnal or cave-living they can move very quickly, often sideways, using the rearmost six walking legs. The front pair of legs is highly elongated and used as antennae.

Most species are arthropod predators but they have been known to prey on vertebrates. Females may carry the young on their back and there are indications of both parental care and communication beyond this. Both the mother and siblings appear to communicate with each other.

In Trinidad there is a species that has been observed pulling shrimps from a stream and consuming them. They appear to cope with water quite well and one species has been observed to survive a submersion of 24 hours - apparently through trapped air.

Amblypygid species 1

Amblypygid, Atta, Guyana

ARACH 0198 Amblypygid, Atta, Guyana

Amblypygid Species 2

Amblypygid, Selva Verde, Costa Rica

Amblypygid, Selva Verde, Costa Rica

Amblypygid Species 3

Amblypygid Solomon Islands

Amblypygid exoskeleton, Solomon Islands.

Paraphrynus? sp

Paraphrynus sp in cave, Caves Branch, Belize

Paraphrynus? sp in cave, Caves Branch, Belize. Photo of me by Dave Herrick.

Paraphrynus sp. eating cricket underwater, Caves Branch, Belize

Paraphrynus? sp. eating cricket underwater, Caves Branch, Belize

Paraphrynus sp.  in cave, Caves Branch, Belize-3572

ARACH 3572 Paraphrynus sp. in cave with cricket, Caves Branch, Belize

Paraphrynus sp in cave, Caves Branch, Belize IMG_3577.jpg

ARACH 3577 Paraphrynus sp in cave, lateral. Caves Branch, Belize

Paraphrynus sp.  in cave, Caves Branch, Belize-3575

IMG 3575 Paraphrynus sp. in cave, Caves Branch, Belize

 

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