Whip-spiders
Guides
Phrynidae
Phrynid Tailless Whipscorpions, whip spiders, tailless whip scorpions
Phrynidae is a family of amblypygid arachnids found in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America. The family includes approximately 65 described species across five extant genera: Acanthophrynus, Heterophrynus, Paraphrynus, Phrynus, and the extinct genus †Britopygus. Species occupy diverse habitats including forests, caves, and subterranean environments. All species are nocturnal. Genetic studies indicate substantial cryptic diversity, with some nominal species likely comprising dozens of distinct lineages.