Ammotrechidae is a family of solifuges distributed in the Americas and the Caribbean Islands. It includes 26 described genera and 95 species. Members of this family can be distinguished from members of other families by the absence of claws on tarsi of leg I, tarsal segmentation 1-2-2-(2-4), pedipalps with pairs of lateroventral spines, and by males having an immovable flagellum on the mesal face of each chelicerum. The propeltidium of the Ammotrechidae is recurved.
The common names used for Ammotrechidae are curve-faced solifugids and sand runners. They live in arid regions, such as dune and rocky habitats. They are carnivores which feed mainly on other invertebrates. Ammotrechidae have relatively high metabolic rates, which allow them to be voracious predators. They feed by masticating their prey and sucking out the liquids. They are preyed upon by other vertebrates. Species of Ammotrechidae are found to be cannibalistic. Males and females dig shallow burrows for protection and nesting.
The species in North America are found in the South to Southwest and are rarely longer than 2 inches. Though they can be pests, they are considered beneficial because they feed on scorpions, spiders, and termites.
Genera , the World Solifugae Catalog accepts the following twenty-six genera:
Ammotrecha Banks, 1900 Ammotrechella Roewer, 1934 Ammotrechesta Roewer, 1934 Ammotrechinus Roewer, 1934 Ammotrechula Roewer, 1934 Antillotrecha Armas, 1994 Branchia Muma, 1951 Campostrecha Mello-Leitão, 1937 Chileotrecha Maury, 1987 Chinchippus Chamberlin, 1920 Cuyanopuga Iuri, 2021 Dasycleobis Mello-Leitão, 1940 Eutrecha Maury, 1982 Innesa Roewer, 1934 Mortola Mello-Leitão, 1938 Mummuciona Roewer, 1934 Neocleobis Roewer, 1934 Nothopuga Maury, 1976 Oltacola Roewer, 1934 Procleobis Kraepelin, 1899 Pseudocleobis Pocock, 1900 Saronomus Kraepelin, 1900 Sedna Muma, 1971 Titanopuga Iuri, 2021 Xenotrecha Maury, 1982 †Happlodontus Poinar & Santiago-Blay, 1989
References
External links Ammotrechidae on Solpugid.com Family Ammotrechidae - Curve-faced Solifugid on BugGuide.net Curve-faced Solifugid from Texas Entomology