Phryna grossetaitai

Amblypygi

This ancient order of arachnid chelicerate arthropods are also known as whip spiders or tailless whip scorpions. The name means 'blunt rump' because they lack the tail flagellum seen in whip scorpions .

There are 150 species worldwide. They have flattened bodies to creep beneath pebbles and logs to hide during the days and emerge at night to hunt.

Their first set of legs have been adapted to act as elongated antennae and contain numerous sensory and mechano sensilla .They have large mushroom bodies in the brain which are associated with higher learning and memory functions. They have a crab like mode of movement.and use the spiny pedipalps to capture prey before moving it to the chelicerae ,which tear it apart.

The females carry the eggs on the underside of the body in a parchment like container.

amblypygi sp.

Peru

The first set of legs are modified into long sensory organs and the total length (incl sense organs ) is 200mm

a1 £ 12.50