Ammotrechidae
Encyclopedia
Ammotrechidae are a family of solifuges
distributed in the Americas
and the Caribbean Islands. They include 22 described genera
and at least 83 species
. Members of this family can be distinguished from members of other families by the absence of claws on tarsi of leg I, tarsal segmentation 1-2-2-(2-4), pedipalp
s with pairs of lateroventral spines, and by males having an immovable flagellum on the mesal face of each chelicerum. The propeltidium of Ammotrechidae is recurved.
The common names used for Ammotrechidae are curve-faced solifugid and sand runner. Ammotrechidae live in arid regions, such as dune and rocky habitats. They are carnivores which feed mainly on other invertebrates. Ammotrechidae have relatively high metabolic rates, which allow them to be voracious predators. They feed by masticating their prey and sucking out the liquids. They are preyed upon by other vertebrates. Species of Ammotrechidae are found to be cannibalistic. Males and females dig shallow burrows for protection and nesting.
The species that are found in North America are found in the South to Southwest and are rarely longer than two inches. Though they can be pests, they are considered beneficial because they feed on "scorpions, spiders and termites." Some species are nocturnal but overall Ammotrechidae are relatively poorly studied.
Solifugae
Solifugae are an order of Arachnida, known as camel spiders, wind scorpions and sun spiders or solifuges, comprising more than 1,000 described species in about 153 genera...
distributed in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and the Caribbean Islands. They include 22 described genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
and at least 83 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. Members of this family can be distinguished from members of other families by the absence of claws on tarsi of leg I, tarsal segmentation 1-2-2-(2-4), pedipalp
Pedipalp
Pedipalps , are the second pair of appendages of the prosoma in the subphylum Chelicerata. They are traditionally thought to be homologous with mandibles in Crustacea and insects, although more recent studies Pedipalps (commonly shortened to palps or palpi), are the second pair of appendages of the...
s with pairs of lateroventral spines, and by males having an immovable flagellum on the mesal face of each chelicerum. The propeltidium of Ammotrechidae is recurved.
The common names used for Ammotrechidae are curve-faced solifugid and sand runner. Ammotrechidae live in arid regions, such as dune and rocky habitats. They are carnivores which feed mainly on other invertebrates. Ammotrechidae have relatively high metabolic rates, which allow them to be voracious predators. They feed by masticating their prey and sucking out the liquids. They are preyed upon by other vertebrates. Species of Ammotrechidae are found to be cannibalistic. Males and females dig shallow burrows for protection and nesting.
The species that are found in North America are found in the South to Southwest and are rarely longer than two inches. Though they can be pests, they are considered beneficial because they feed on "scorpions, spiders and termites." Some species are nocturnal but overall Ammotrechidae are relatively poorly studied.
Taxonomy
This family is subdivided in 5 subfamilies and 22 genera.- Ammotrechinae (North, Central and South America)
- Ammotrecha Banks, 1900 — Chile to USA (9 species)
- Ammotrechella Roewer, 1934 — West Indies, northern South America to Florida (13 species)
- Ammotrechesta Roewer, 1934 — Central America (5 species)
- Ammotrechinus Roewer, 1934 — Haiti, Jamaica (1 species)
- Ammotrechona Roewer, 1934 — Cuba (1 species)
- Ammotrechula Roewer, 1934 — Ecuador to USA (12 species)
- Antillotrecha Armas, 1994 — Dominican RepublicDominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, Leeward IslandsLeeward IslandsThe Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
(2 species) - Campostrecha Mello-Leitão, 1937 — Ecuador (1 species)
- Dasycleobis Mello-Leitão, 1940 — Argentina (1 species)
- Neocleobis Roewer, 1934 — Galapagos (1 species)
- Pseudocleobis Pocock, 1900 — South America (20 species)
- Mortolinae
- Mortola Mello-Leitão, 1938 — Argentina (1 species)
- Nothopuginae
- Nothopuga Maury, 1976 — Argentina (2 species)
- Oltacolinae
- Oltacola Roewer, 1934 — Argentina (4 species)
- Saronominae (Central and South America)
- Branchia Muma, 1951 — Mexico, USA (3 species)
- ChinchippusChinchippusChinchippus is a genus of solifugid in the Ammotrechidae family with two described species, C. peruvianus and C. viejaensis...
Chamberlin, 1920 — Peru (2 species) - Innesa Roewer, 1934 — Guatemala (1 species)
- Procleobis Kraepelin, 1899 — Argentina (1 species)
- Saronomus Kraepelin, 1900 — Colombia, Venezuela (1 species)
- Subfamily not assigned
- Chileotrecha Maury, 1987 — Chile (1 species)
- Eutrecha Maury, 1982 — Venezuela (1 species)
- Xenotrecha Maury, 1982 — Venezuela (1 species)
- † Happlodontus proterus Poinar & Santiago-Blay, 1989 — fossil: MioceneMioceneThe Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
amberAmberAmber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
(1 species)