Guiana Giant Whip Spider
The Guiana giant whip spider (Heterophrynus alces) is a large whip spider of the rainforests of the Guiana Shield, with huge spiny pedipalps. The species name alces refers to the antler-like shape of the pedipalps in males.
The Guiana giant whip spider (Heterophrynus alces) is a large whip spider of the rainforests of the Guiana Shield, with huge spiny pedipalps. The species name alces refers to the antler-like shape of the pedipalps in males.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Guiana Giant Whip Spider in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Ecdysozoa lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
Antler-Shaped Weapons
Males have long, branched spines on the pedipalps, which resemble elk antlers, and they use these in contests over mates. The pedipalps also catch insects, frogs and lizards at night.
Whips for Sensing
The thread-like front legs, longer than the body, work as sensory feelers. See Giant Amazonian Whip Spider.
Rainforest Residents
These arachnids cling to trees and cave walls. They are harmless to people, with no venom.
Guiana Giant Whip Spider at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Heterophrynus alces |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum | Chelicerata |
| Class | Arachnida |
| Order | Amblypygi |
| Family | Phrynidae |
| Field Guide group | Ecdysozoa: Arachnida (Spiders, Scorpions & Allies) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Flattened, bark-hugging rainforest predator lacking silk or venom glands, armed with long spiny raptorial pedipalps and an ultra-elongated, antenna-like first pair of legs swept sideways as feelers. |
| Order | Amblypygi |
| Habitat | Guiana Shield rainforest |