Draculoides facts for kids

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.

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

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. 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:

• 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)