Revision of the genus Damon C. L. Koch, 1850 (Chelicerata: Amblypygi: Phrynichidae). Sperm transfer, spermatophore morphology, and female genitalia of three species of whip spiders
Charinus seychellarum Kraepelin, 1898, Damon medius (Herbst, 1797), and Phrynichius scaber (Gervais, 1844). (Chelicerata, Amblypygi)
1999. 64 pages, 104 figures, 30x23cm, 350 g
Language: English
(Zoologica, Heft 150)
ISBN 978-3-510-55037-1, paperback, price: 50.00 €
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The amblypygid (whip spider) genus Damon is revised. Ten species and
one subspecies are recognised, all of them live in Africa. The best
and easiest characters to distinguish species are discussed The ten
species can be divided into two groups. The four species of the
western group are confined to West Africa. They are large (formerly
Titanodamon), mostly with plesiomorphic characters. They probably
envolved in rain forests. Only Damon medius also inhabits
savannah-like hatibats. The eastern group or Damon Variegatus species
group contains 6 species which are distributed from East Africa to
South Africa and Namibia. Most of these species are smaller and
capable of surviving in dryer habitats by hiding underground, in deep
crevices or caves. Only Damon gracilis is active under xeric
conditions. The western group is paraphyletic; Damon medius is
hypothesised to be the sister group of the monophyletic Damon
variegatus species group.
1. Introduction
2. History of the genus Damon and the "Damonidae" 2
3. Material and Methods 3
Material 3
The species concept 3
Characters used 3
4. Results 4
Damon C. L. Koch, 1850 4
Key to the species of Damon 4
4.1 The western group of species 5
Damon johnstonii Pocock, 1894 5
Damon medius (Herbst, 1797) 10
Damon tibalis (Simon, 1876) 14
Damon uncinatus nov. spec. 16
4.2 The eastern group of Damon variegatus species group 18
Damon brachialis nov. spec. 18
Damon diadema (Simon, 1876) 18
Damon gracilis Weygoldt, 1998 24
Damon longispinatus nov. spec. 28
"Damon variegatus (Perty, 1834)" 30
Damon annulatipes (Wood, 1869) 30
Damon variegatus (Perty, 1834) 35
5. List of synonyms 37
6. Discussion 38
7. Biogeography 42
8. Conclusions 43
9. Acknowledgements 44
10. References 44
2. History of the genus Damon and the "Damonidae" 2
3. Material and Methods 3
Material 3
The species concept 3
Characters used 3
4. Results 4
Damon C. L. Koch, 1850 4
Key to the species of Damon 4
4.1 The western group of species 5
Damon johnstonii Pocock, 1894 5
Damon medius (Herbst, 1797) 10
Damon tibalis (Simon, 1876) 14
Damon uncinatus nov. spec. 16
4.2 The eastern group of Damon variegatus species group 18
Damon brachialis nov. spec. 18
Damon diadema (Simon, 1876) 18
Damon gracilis Weygoldt, 1998 24
Damon longispinatus nov. spec. 28
"Damon variegatus (Perty, 1834)" 30
Damon annulatipes (Wood, 1869) 30
Damon variegatus (Perty, 1834) 35
5. List of synonyms 37
6. Discussion 38
7. Biogeography 42
8. Conclusions 43
9. Acknowledgements 44
10. References 44