Synopsis top ↑
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.