Cinteotl Vinegaroon 0
Mastigoproctus cinteotl
This record describes Mastigoproctus cinteotl (species). Recorded family: Thelyphonidae. Recorded order: Uropygi.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Uropygi (Whipscorpions)
- Family
- Thelyphonidae
- Genus
- Mastigoproctus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Per Barrales-Alcalá: "Known from the vicinity of El Cielo Protected Area in the municipality of Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas, Mexico (fig. 2). Populations from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, are probably conspecific based on one available sequence of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene. Some specimens from western Texas, the Big Bend area, and southern New Mexico are probably not conspecific, but no adult males were available for examination."
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Per Barrales-Alcalá et al: "This new species is named after the Aztec god Cinteotl, responsible for providing the first corn seeds to their ancestors. The Mexican state of Tamaulipas was an important center for the domestication of corn (McClung de Tapia et al., 2001)."
About Whipscorpions: the wider group
Order-level background for Uropygi, the group containing Mastigoproctus cinteotl. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comprising over 80% of all known animal species with approximately 1.2 million described species globally.
Ecological role of the group
Members of this order contribute to broader arthropod ecosystem functions including decomposition, predation, and serving as food sources for vertebrates. Arthropod biodiversity is essential for ecosystem resilience.
Economic and practical significance of the group
While this order has limited direct economic impact, arthropods collectively provide ecosystem services worth trillions of dollars annually through pollination, decomposition, pest control, and nutrient cycling.
Recorded sources for this group: General entomology and arthropod research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.