Is it a mite?

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Nomenclature

Amblypygi (Amblypygida)

Common names

whip spiders, tail-less whip scorpions, amblypygids

Probability of encounter

low

Quarantine importance

No known importance. Whip spiders may look fierce, but are not venomous and do not appear to have the potential for outbreaks. Some species are used in the pet trade and some may have small, threatened populations.

Similarity to mites

Much larger than mites and with clear opisthosomal segmentation. More likely to be confused with spiders.

Morphology

Normal adult length: >20 mm
Body tagmata: prosoma, opisthosoma
Eyes: 3 + 2 + 3 arrangement of ocelli
Antennae: absent
Mouthparts: 2-segmented fang-like chelicerae; robust, spiny-raptorial palps
Legs: 4 pairs; legs I antenniform
Distinguishing features: segmented opisthosoma, stabbing chelicerae, 'tail' absent, pedicel (waist), whip-like legs I with subdivided tarsi

Diversity

5 families, 17 genera, >136 species

References

• Harvey 2003
• Weygoldt 2000Weygoldt 2000:
  Weygoldt P. 2000. Whip spiders: Their biology, morphology and systematics. Apollo Books, Stenstrup.