| Draculoides eremius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Schizomida |
| Family: | Hubbardiidae |
| Genus: | Draculoides |
| Species: | D. eremius |
| Binomial name | |
| Draculoides eremius | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Draculoides eremius is a species of schizomid arachnids (commonly known as short-tailed whip-scorpions) in the Hubbardiidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2015 by Australian arachnologists Kym Abrams and Mark Harvey. The specific epithet eremius, from the Greek for ‘solitude’ or ‘desert’, refers to its solitary underground existence.[1][2]
Description
The male holotype has a body length of 4.30 mm; the female paratype of 3.29 mm. The colour ranges from yellow-brown to dark orange-brown.[1]
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in the arid Pilbara region of North West Western Australia, where it has only been found in subterranean habitats in channel-iron deposits. The type locality is Bungaroo, 35.4 km south-east of the iron-ore mining town of Pannawonica and some 1,400 km north of Perth.[1][2]
Behaviour
The arachnids are troglofaunal predators.[1][2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Abrams, KM; Harvey, MS (2015). "A new troglobitic schizomid (Hubbardiidae: Paradraculoides) from the Pilbara region, Western Australia" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum. 30: 132–136 [133]. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- 1 2 3 "Species Draculoides eremius (Abrams & Harvey, 2015)". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2020-12-24. Retrieved 2023-09-22.