The Amblypygid genus Phrynus in the Americas (Amblypygi, Phrynidae)

Collections of Phrynus from all available localities from the Americas have been examined. Collections from other parts of the world tropics have also been examined in the search for a better characterization of the three families of amblypygids which lack pulvilli in the tarsi of their ambulatory legs. The gensus Phrynus has been found to occur only in the Americas and a redefinition of the Phrynidae is given. Of the 24 species of Phyrnus described for the Americas, 12 species are considered as valid and redescribed. The three species described by Franganillo, Phrynus pinarensis, P. viridescens and P. rangelensis are considered species Incertae Sedis. Three new species are described; one, P. damonidaensis, presents a character unique within the family Phrynidae : three tibial segments in leg IV instead of four. Five new synonymies are recognized. Natural history data are presented for some of the species of Phrynus.