Central American Giant Tailless Whipspiders (Phrynus whitei) — Introduction & Overview

Meet the Central American Giant Tailless Whipspider (Phrynus whitei), the living embodiment of “did my enclosure just grow a boss fight?” These amblypygids look like flat, two-dimensional crab-spiders with absurdly long “whip” legs they use as sensory antennae, and spiky raptorial arms for lightning-fast prey grabs. By day, they press themselves into impossibly thin crevices; by night, they unfold into an elegant, alien silhouette, gently sweeping the air like a living radar dish. For MYCO-EMPORIUMS and Myco-EMPers who love weird, gentle, high-intel arthropods, this species is all about eerie motion, quiet drama, and deep respect.

Why Keep This Species

Iconic “horror movie” profile that clings to vertical bark and moves with slow, deliberate, alien grace.
Relatively hardy once dialed in, with simple feeding needs and low mess, as long as humidity and hides stay on point.
Fantastic for teaching real arthropod behavior, sensory biology, and nocturnal hunting without relying on venom or aggression.

Keeper Profile

Best for Intermediate Myco-EMPers comfortable managing humidity, microclimates, and hands-off display invertebrates.
Handling expectations: strictly hands-off; use catch cups and tools only, never bare-handed “bonding sessions”.
Microclimate vibe: cool to mildly warm (around low- to mid-70s °F) with high humidity and strong vertical climbing and hiding options.

Keeper’s Summary

A single Central American Giant Tailless Whipspider (Phrynus whitei) thrives in a tall, well-ventilated enclosure with plenty of vertical cork bark, narrow crevices, and a moist, stable microclimate. Think: at least 12" tall with deep, slightly damp substrate, constant access to a shallow water dish, and humidity in the “jungle night” zone. Feed appropriate-sized crickets or roaches about once a week, and keep the experience strictly observe-don’t-handle. Pro tip: give them multiple stacked cork flats forming tight wedges; once they feel that “pressed on both sides” safety, they’ll relax and reward you with glorious late-night patrols under a dim red light.

🐾 Central American Giant Tailless Whipspider — Phrynus whitei

Common Name(s): Central American Giant Tailless Whipspider, Giant Tailless Whip Spider, Giant Amblypygid
Scientific Name: Phrynus whitei
Native To: Humid forests, caves, and rock/wood crevices in Central America (e.g., Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and surrounding regions)
Adult Size: Body length roughly 1–1.5" (2.5–3.5 cm); leg span commonly 4–6" (10–15 cm), with first pair of “whip” legs extending even farther
Life Span: Typically 5–10+ years in captivity with proper conditions; females often outlive males
Difficulty: Intermediate; humidity-sensitive, shy, and strictly display-only, but robust once the environment is dialed in

🌟 View Available Specimens 🌟

Characteristics & Temperament

Central American Giant Tailless Whipspiders (Phrynus whitei) live their best sitcom life as shy, nocturnal wall-ninjas. By daylight they flatten into bark crevices like living paper; after dark, they unfold and sweep their hypersensitive whip-legs in eerie, radar-like arcs. When an EMPORIUM walks by, they switch to “freeze-frame mode” or “crab-walk hyperspeed” depending on mood. Once settled, they patrol their bark highways with slow, alien elegance.

Appearance

Coloration: Dark chocolate to soot-black with leg joint highlights and faint banding.
Body Form: Ultra-flattened, disc-like body; long sideways legs; oversized raptorial pedipalps.
UV Reaction: No fluorescence—matte, shadow-creature aesthetic under blacklight.

Temperament

Personality: Shy, evasive, highly sensitive to touch and airflow.
Activity: Nocturnal/crepuscular; prime time is lights-off.
Feeding: Ambush/opportunistic—rapid pedipalp strikes.

Social Housing

Solitary for all standard Myco-EMPers. Communal attempts require huge spaces and still risk stress or cannibalism.

Quick Traits

UV Responsive: No — matte shadowform Activity: Medium–High at night Social: Solitary (experimental communal only for experts) Handling: Observe-Not-Disturb / Gentle Grip, No Slip

Keeper Notes

Stress signs: staying low on substrate, hiding nonstop, frantic pacing, repeated prey drops, dehydration wrinkles.
Confidence tips: vertical hides, stable humidity, low traffic, dim lighting, cool cave ambience.
Display advice: textured cork walls = visible night patrols without stressing your LIVE SPECIMEN.

Care Requirements

Core setup and environmental targets to keep [Scientific Name] thriving. Replace the bracketed fields with accurate species values.

Enclosure Setup

Type: [Arboreal/Terrestrial/Burrowing/Paludarium].
Minimum Size: [Tank dimensions or gallons].
Safety: Secure lid/locking front; cross-ventilation; cable-managed heat sources.