Draculoides

Draculoides is a genus of troglobite arachnid endemic to North West Australia. Often mistaken for a spider, D. bramstokeri is a schizomid — a small, soil-dwelling invertebrate that walks on six legs and uses two modified front legs as feelers. It uses large fang-like pedipalps, or pincers, to grasp invertebrate prey and crunch it into pieces before sucking out the juices.

Draculoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Schizomida
Family: Hubbardiidae
Subfamily: Hubbardiinae
Genus: Draculoides
Harvey, 1992

The genus was first described in 1992 by M.S. Harvey of the Western Australian Museum,[1] based on his earlier description of Schizomus vinei (Draculoides vinei).[2]

A second species was described in 1995, Draculoides bramstokeri, based on specimens found at Barrow Island, Western Australia; the specific epithet honours Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.[3] The allusion to this fictional character, a vampire, in the name of the genus is given for the method of consuming its prey.

The following is a list of species:[4]

  • Draculoides Harvey, 1992
    • Draculoides bramstokeri Harvey & Humphreys, 1995
    • Draculoides brooksi Harvey, 2001
    • Draculoides julianneae Harvey, 2001
    • Draculoides mesozeirus Harvey, Berry, Edward & Humphreys, 2008
    • Draculoides neoanthropus Harvey, Berry, Edward & Humphreys, 2008
    • Draculoides vinei (Harvey, 1988)

See also

References
  1. Draculoides Harvey, M. S. 1992. The Schizomida (Chelicerata) of Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 6: 77–129 [82].
  2. Harvey, M. S. 1988. A new troglobitic schizomid from Cape Range, Western Australia (Chelicerata: Schizomida). Records of the Western Australian Museum 14: 15–20 [16].
  3. Draculoides bramstokeri Harvey, M. S. & Humphreys, W. F. 1995. Notes on the genus Draculoides Harvey (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae), with the description of a new troglobitic species. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 52: 183–189 [185].
  4. Checklist for Draculoides Harvey, 1992 Australian Faunal Directory

Further reading
  • Burbidge, Andrew A (2004). "9. Invertebrates". Threatened animals of Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management. p. 151. ISBN 0-7307-5549-5. The North West Cape Karst Management Advisory Committee coordinates the conservation of threatened animals on the North West Cape peninsula.
  • "Draculoides Harvey, 1992". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
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