Sparassidae Thelcticopis

Thelcticopis sp. "Whip Embolus"

Whip Embolus Heavy Huntsman

This ordinary-looking Thelcticopis is remarkable for its extraordinary genitalia. The cymbium is oblong, in contrast with the pear-shaped cymbium seen in most other Thelcticopis palps. The exceptionally elongated embolus loops around the lower (ventral) side of the palp like a whip. The palpal tibia is armed with a short but multi-pronged, sclerotised outgrowth.

The female is more difficult to identify in the field as its complicated female genitalia can be seen only after dissection, viewed under a microscope. The fish-bone pattern on the dorsum is not a diagnostic character of the species, as the pattern may vary among individuals within the species. Some other Thelcticopis species also have similar patterns. While the male chelicerae are brownish, the chelicerae of the female are black.