Sexing Amblypygids

[Whompyjawed]

I just acquired a tailless whip scorpion and would like to know how to tell it's gender. I can't find a lot of info about these guys. Can you guys help me?

[Carlos.e]

It seems a male, but you can take a pic of the ventral side for verifying.

[Scorpendra]

male amblypygids have longer, thinner chelae than females. i'd say male.

[Whompyjawed]

Thanks! I'll try, it might take a while, he doesn't move when I poke him, like my other spiders do. :P Lol

[Whompyjawed]

Like most other arachnids, do the males have shorter lifespans than females?

While we're at it, I also have a Vinegaroon I need sexed;




Thank you thank you all!!

[Whompyjawed]

Ventral side, as requested!!!


Show me what makes it a male, please, please! C:

[Banshee05]

this is a male Damon diadema.
and it is not true, that ALL whip spiders shown this sexual morphological dimorphismus in elongated pedipalps, just a handfull, like D.diadema, D.medius, Heterophrynus longicornis, some Sarax spp., Phrynichus deferlsi, P.ceyclonicus, etc. but NOT ALL.

[rustym3talh3ad]

i have 3 of these guys myself..and id love to know how to sex them, my smallest one is maybe the size of a quarter and my biggest is maybe 3.5"....could someone post male and female pics for me, in the research ive done they say that the chelae is how you tell, but mine are small and its all about the same size right now... or (without being scolded about using the search function) can someone post a link in here about sexing these guys so that we can all use it?

[Scorpendra]

Originally Posted by Banshee05

this is a male Damon diadema.
and it is not true, that ALL whip spiders shown this sexual morphological dimorphismus in elongated pedipalps, just a handfull, like D.diadema, D.medius, Heterophrynus longicornis, some Sarax spp., Phrynichus deferlsi, P.ceyclonicus, etc. but NOT ALL.

right, sorry. but since it is a D. diadema i was not wholly incorrect.

[Whompyjawed]

Originally Posted by rustym3talh3ad

i have 3 of these guys myself..and id love to know how to sex them, my smallest one is maybe the size of a quarter and my biggest is maybe 3.5"....could someone post male and female pics for me, in the research ive done they say that the chelae is how you tell, but mine are small and its all about the same size right now... or (without being scolded about using the search function) can someone post a link in here about sexing these guys so that we can all use it?

Hey, while I was waiting for an answer from these guys, I found a thread with a side by side comparison photo. of the underbelly Here: http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=107187


Apparently not all of them but some of them can be sexed by the length of the pedipalp, males' are longer than the walking leg and females' are shorter and fatter.

[Matt K]

Here is a pic I just took tonight of a female Phrynus barbadensis where the males and females have similarly proportioned pedipalps and everything else really....



Ta Da!

She is adult, produced eggs some months ago, and frankly is so big for her species I really did not expect her to molt/grow any further. Guess I was mistaken!

[Whompyjawed]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Here is a pic I just took tonight of a female Phrynus barbadensis where the males and females have similarly proportioned pedipalps and everything else really....



Ta Da!

She is adult, produced eggs some months ago, and frankly is so big for her species I really did not expect her to molt/grow any further. Guess I was mistaken!

She's stunning! What an amazing capture!

[zonbonzovi]

Matt- nice photo!!!

Whompy- not certain, but that whipscorpion(M. giganteus?) looks almost exactly like my gravid female. I'll take a comparison look/pic & get back at ya.

[Snipes]

With Damons, you can simply tell by the length of the pedipalps. With other amblys that do not have sexually dimorphic palps, you have to life the genital operculum. Males will have an opisthogeminate organ which is whitish and conical and can stick out if properly stimulated to. The females have two claw like sclerites. Be careful not to open the operculum too far- it can hurt them. You should use a thin tool, but I used the small knife of a swiss army knife while I was in the field and had no casualties as I was very careful. They certainly do not like it when you do this, so be aware they will fight against it.

[Carlos.e]

Sorry, I was looking for a photo to show you the differences between male and female, but in that thread you remembered, there is one (http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/atta...1&d=1194089398)
Left male, right female, it's easy to sex this animals looking genital operculum.