Draculoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Schizomida
Family: Hubbardiidae
Subfamily: Hubbardiinae
Genus: Draculoides
Harvey, 1992
Type species
Draculoides vinei
Harvey, 1988
Synonyms
  • Paradraculoides Harvey, Berry, Edward & Humphreys, 2008

Draculoides is a genus of troglobite schizomid arachnids endemic to North West Australia. Often mistaken for spiders, they are commonly known as short-tailed whip-scorpions or sprickets.[1]

Description

Schizomids are small, soil-dwelling, eight-legged invertebrates that walk on six legs and use the two modified front legs as feelers. They employ large fang-like pedipalps, or pincers, to grasp invertebrate prey and crunch it into pieces before sucking out the juices.

Taxonomy

The genus was first described in 1992 by Mark Harvey of the Western Australian Museum,[2] based on his earlier description of Schizomus vinei (Draculoides vinei).[3]

A second species was described in 1995, Draculoides bramstokeri, based on specimens found at Barrow Island; the specific epithet honours Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.[4] The allusion to this fictional character, a vampire, in the name of the genus is given for the method of consuming its prey, and further allusions to vampirism appear in the epithets of subsequently described species.

The genus is considered a senior synonym of Paradraculoides, due to paraphyly and a lack of consistent morphological differences.[5]

Species

As of September 2023, the World Arachnida Catalog accepted the following species:[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Researchers count 13 new species of fanged arachnids in the Pilbara". Western Australian Museum. WAM. 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  2. ↑ Draculoides Harvey, M. S. 1992. The Schizomida (Chelicerata) of Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 6: 77–129 [82].
  3. ↑ Harvey, M. S. 1988. A new troglobitic schizomid from Cape Range, Western Australia (Chelicerata: Schizomida). Records of the Western Australian Museum 14: 15–20 [16].
  4. ↑ Harvey, M. S. & Humphreys, W. F. 1995. Notes on the genus Draculoides Harvey (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae), with the description of a new troglobitic species. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 52: 183–189 [185].
  5. ↑ Abrams, K. M.; Huey, J. A.; Hillyer, M. J.; Humphreys, W. F.; Didham, R. K.; Harvey, M. S. (2019). "Too hot to handle: Cenozoic aridification drives multiple independent incursions of Schizomida (Hubbardiidae) into hypogean environments". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 139: 1–12. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106532. PMID 31185297. S2CID 186205296.
  6. ↑ "Genus: Draculoides Harvey, 1992". World Arachnida Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2023-09-20.

Further reading

  • Burbidge, Andrew A (2004). "9. Invertebrates". Threatened animals of Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management. p. 151. ISBN 0-7307-5549-5. The North West Cape Karst Management Advisory Committee coordinates the conservation of threatened animals on the North West Cape peninsula.
  • "Draculoides Harvey, 1992". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
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