Thelyphonidae

Lucas, 1835

whipscorpions, vinegaroons, whip-scorpions

Thelyphonidae is the sole of the Uropygi (Thelyphonida), containing approximately 140 described in 25 (16 extant, 9 fossil). Members are commonly known as whipscorpions or vinegaroons due to their whip-like and defensive secretion of acetic acid. The family is divided into four : Hypoctoninae, Mastigoproctinae, Thelyphoninae, and Typopeltinae. Despite their conspicuous appearance and wide tropical distribution, systematic knowledge of the group has advanced slowly.

Mastigoproctus tohono by (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Don Loarie. Used under a CC-BY license.

Mastigoproctus tohono 142770555 by Jake N.. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Mastigoproctus cinteotl 2649299 by Juan Cruzado Cortés. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Thelyphonidae: //ˌθɛlɪˈfoʊnɪˌdiː//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other by the combination of a long, multi-segmented and . Thelyphonidae can be separated from the related order Schizomida (short-tailed whip-) by flagellum length (long and multi-segmented vs. short and flagelliform). Within the , and are distinguished by characters of pedipalp armature, carination, structure, and female spermathecal .

Images

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical rainforests and savannas. occupy humid microhabitats including leaf litter, soil burrows, rotting logs, and beneath stones. Neotropical Hypoctoninae show disjunct distributions correlated with specific geographic regions.

Distribution

Widely distributed across four continents: North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Specific regional distributions include: Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola); northern South America (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, northern Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela); West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso); and South and Southeast Asia.

Life Cycle

Postembryonic development in Mastigoproctus giganteus includes four nymphal stages followed by the ; adults do not moult further. occurs approximately once per year, with development to maturity requiring about four years. Secondary sexual characters of the appear at the adult stage, including positive of the male palpal and beginning in the fourth nymphal stage.

Behavior

that use antenniform legs for sensory exploration. When threatened, members expel noxious defensive secretions from located on the last abdominal ; these secretions contain acetic acid and other compounds, producing a vinegar-like odor. Courtship involves elaborate precopulatory rituals including antenniform leg stroking, drumming, and cheliceral rubbing.

Human Relevance

Defensive secretions produce a noticeable vinegar-like odor. Large such as Mastigoproctus giganteus are occasionally kept in captivity by enthusiasts. Not medically significant to humans.

Similar Taxa

SchizomidaShort-tailed whip- with , flagelliform versus long, multi-segmented flagellum in Thelyphonidae
AmblypygiWhip lack the entirely and have more elongated, laterally compressed bodies

More Details

Systematic History

Thelyphonida was long classified as suborder Uropygi within Arachnida, with Thelyphonidae as the sole extant . Recent phylogenetic studies recognize Thelyphonida as a distinct . Four are currently recognized: Hypoctoninae (Neotropical and Old World), Mastigoproctinae (Americas), Thelyphoninae (Asia), and Typopeltinae (Asia).

Phylogenetic Insights

First morphological phylogenetic analysis of Hypoctoninae revealed Thelyphonellus to be with respect to Ravilops, leading to reclassification of Neotropical and description of two new genera, Wounaan and Yekuana, from Colombia and Venezuela respectively.