Metasolpuga is a genus of solifuge or sun spider.[1] The monotypic genus contains the species Metasolpuga picta which is native to Namibia.[2] It is one of several large, diurnal solifuge species that occur in the arid regions of southern Africa.[3]

Metasolpuga
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Solifugae
Family: Solpugidae
Genus: Metasolpuga
Roewer, 1934
Species:
M. picta
Binomial name
Metasolpuga picta
(Kraepelin, 1899)

Its habitat is interdune valleys of the Namib Desert. They are active when ground surface temperatures are between 40 and 61 °C. In experimental conditions they become lethargic at 20 ± 1 °C, and at 5 to 10 °C they become completely torpid.[3] During mid-winter it is believed to become lethargic in burrows for days or weeks. Egg depositing has been recorded during early spring and late summer.[3] Data suggests that male M. picta are short-lived and die after the mating season due to high energy demands and low food intake.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Solpuginae". BioLib.cz. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Genus Metasolpuga". The Solifugae Website. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Wharton, Robert A. (1987). "Biology of the diurnal Metasolpuga picta (Kraepelin) (Soligugae, Solpugidae) compared with that of nocturnal species" (PDF). J. Arachnol. (14): 363–383. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  4. ^ Wharton, Robert A. (1986). "Biology of the diurnal Metasolpuga picta (Kraepelin) (Solifugae, Solpugidae) compared with that of nocturnal species". The Journal of Arachnology. 14 (3): 363–383. ISSN 0161-8202. JSTOR 3705676.