Damon medius

Damon medius is a species of arachnid of the family Phrynichidae.

Damon medius
Damon medius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Order:
Amblypygi
Family:
Phrynichidae
Genus:
Damon
Species:
D. medius
Binomial name
Damon medius
(Herbst, 1797)
Synonyms
  • Phalangium medium Herbst, 1797
  • Phrynus bassamensis Lucas, 1858
  • Phrynus kochii Butler, 1873
  • Phrynus granulosus Bulter, 1873
  • Phrynus savatieri Rochebrune, 1883

Description

Damon medius can reach a body length of 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in). This strictly arboreal and nocturnal whip spider has a flat body and fragile legs, by which it moves sideways like a crab. In males the front legs are very long and antenniform, much longer than in the females. It has two large, spiny pedipalps, which are larger in the male than the female. It feeds on small insects.

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found in West Africa, in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. It lives in wetlands and rainforests.

References
  • Lichtenstein & Herbst, 1797 : Naturgeschichte der Insekten-Gattungen. Solpuga und Phalangium.
  • Prendini, L. (2005). Systematics of the group of African whip spiders (Chelicerata: Amblypygi): Evidence from behaviour, morphology and DNA. Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 5, 203-236.


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