Mastigoproctus giganteus. Used with permission. (c) Bryan E. Reynolds.

Classification

Mastigoproctus giganteus Taxonomy 
Domain
Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Arachnida
Order Thelyphonida
Family Thelyphonidae
Genus Mastigoproctus
Species Mastigoproctus giganteus

Domain Eukarya
Mastigoporctus giganteus falls under this domain because its cells possess a nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
 
Kingdom Animalia
M. giganteus belongs to Kingdom Animalia for several reasons. Like all animals, it is heterotrophic, meaning it gains its nutrients by consuming other organisms. Unlike fellow opisthokonts in Kingdom Fungi, animals like M. giganteus ingest food before digesting it. M. giganteus also is motile and reproduces sexually, which are other traits that unite animals as a kingdom.
 
Phylogenetic tree of molting animals. Tree created by Jacob Faultersack. Tree based off information from Tree of Life Web Project.
Phylogenetic tree of Athropods. Tree created by Jacob Faultersack. Information for tree from Tree of Life Web Project.

Figure 1. Phylogenetic tree showing the extant phyla that belong to the monophyletic group of Ecdysozoa, which contains molting animals. The second tree shows the classes that belong to Phylum Athropoda under the Subphyla Myriapoda and Chlicerata. The orange shows which group M. giganteus belongs to (Tree of Life Web Project 2002).

Phylum Arthropoda
M. giganteus is placed under Phylum Arthropoda because it possesses a hardened cuticle that makes up its exoskeleton, jointed legs, and a clearly segmented body (Budd and Telford 2009). To learn more about Arthropods, check out these other students' pages for the Crane Fly, Tipula submaculata or the Flathead Lobster, Thenus orientalis.
 
Class Arachnida

Like all members of this class, M. giganteus have eight legs, modified mouthparts, and their body is divided into two regions called the cephalothorax and abdomen (Zipcode Zoo 2013). Take a look at these other students' pages to learn about other Arachnids, like the spiders, Salticus scenicus or Centruroides sculpturatus, or the Deer Tick, Ixodes scapularis.
 
Order Thelyphonida
This order formerly was known to scientists as Order Uropygi, but recently has been changed to the name Thelyphonida. Unlike some other arachnids, members of this order do not possess a silk gland or any type of venom. M. giganteus also possesses all the traits of this order, which include its whip-like tail, and the secretion of acetic acid as a defense mechanism (Ohio State University 2011).


 Phylogenetic tree of Arachnids. Tree created by Jacob Faultersack. Information for tree from Tree of Life Web Project.

Figure 2. Phylogenetic tree showing the extant orders that belong to Class Arachnida. Order Thelyphonida is the order that contains M. giganteus. (Tree of Life Web Project 2002).

Family Thelyphonidae
This family is the single family that belongs to Order Thelyphonida (thus the similar names) and possesses all the same traits. Organisms belonging to this family are commonly known as whipscorpions or vinegaroons. M. giganteus fits into this family because of its acetic acid chemical defenses, whip-like tail and enlarged pedipalps (Harvey 2003).
 
Genus Mastigoproctus
M. giganteus belongs to this genus because it is among the whipscorpions that are local to North and South America.
 
Species Mastigoproctus giganteus
M. giganteus was discovered by Lucas in 1835 (Kern and Mitchell 2011). Translated from Latin, Mastigoproctus giganteus means gigantic whip proctor. As this name suggests, M. giganteus is larger than the rest of the members of Genus Mastigoproctus.

To view various trees at any point in evolutionary history check out the very useful website Tree of Life Web Project.

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See References

MultipleOrganisms.net