Savory - Arachnida 1977

146 III. PROLES ARACHNES
DISTRIBUTION
Amblypygi occupy a continuous area in America, the greater part of
which is south of Panama, are widespread in South Africa, and are
found in India, Borneo and New Guinea. They do not, however, accompany
Uropygi to the Asiatic coast (Fig. 48). Though a very large
number of species have not been described, Amblypygi are often
plentiful in the regions they inhabit: they live among rocks and in
caves and are frequently found in houses.
1 7. THE ORDER AMBL YPYGI
3 ( 4) Tibia ofleg 4 in one piece
4 (3) Tibia ofleg 4 in more than one piece
5 (6) Tibia ofleg 4 in two piecf's
G ( 5) Tibia of leg 4 in three pieces
PIIRY:-i!CINAE
5
DAMONINAE
TARANTUL!NAE
If it may reasonably be said that Uropygi have maintained the
scorpion-pattern, then it may be similarly suggested that Amblypygi
have introduced the spider-pattern. In much of their structure the
members of this order recall the order Araneae, and so closely that it
is not over-fanciful to describe them as spiders without silk and perhaps
as representatives of an ancestral stock from which spiders also evolved.
The mode of life adopted by Amblypygi is demonstrated by their
generally flattened bodies. Nearly all Arachnida arc inclined to rest in
cracks and crevices, so that the flat bodies of Amblypygi should cause
no surprise; a more conspicuous feature is their association with man.
Other animals, better known because, perhaps, they are more unpleasant,
have shown the same inclination; the cockroach and the rat
are no doubt the most obvious. Amblypygi are less conspicuous, but
are nevertheless sufficiently domesticated to cause Lawrence to say
of Damon variegatus that "it probably occurs in all houses in Pietermari
tz burg''.
147
FIG. 48. Map showing distribution of Amblypygi.
PALAEONTOLOGY
The fossil record is meagre, for only three Carboniferous genera are
known, Protophrynus, Thclyphrynus and Graeophyrynus, each of
which is represented by an American species. In addition Graeophrynus
anglicus was described by Pocock from Coseley, Worcestershire.
CLASSIFICATION
The order does not demand a very complex system of classification, for
it is conveniently divided into two families, thus:
CLASSIFICATION OF THE ORDER AMDLYPYGI
I (2) Tarsi oflcgs 2 to 4 with pulvilli
2 (I) Tarsi oflegs 2 to 4 without pulvilli
CHARONTIDAE
TARANTULIDAE (3)