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Authors: Cazzaniga, N. and Prendini, L.
The arachnid order Amblypygi Thorell, 1883, currently comprises 299 described species in 18 genera and five families, a surprisingly low diversity compared to other globally distributed arachnid orders. The genus Phrynus Lamarck, 1801, the most speciose genus of the Neotropical family Phrynidae Blanchard, 1852, is one of several amblypygid genera that contain much undescribed diversity. For example, its type species, Phrynus operculatus Pocock, 1902, allegedly distributed from southern Texas to Guatemala, appears to represent a complex of more range-restricted cryptic species. Existing records suggest a disjunction in the distribution of P. operculatus, with the Texan population separated from Mexican populations by considerable distance and a potential barrier of unsuitable desert habitat. The recent collection and examination of new material from the Big Bend area of southern Texas revealed that the Texan population is not conspecific with typical P. operculatus material from Mexico and Central America. It differs from the latter in being almost entirely depigmented and is the third troglomorphic species of Phrynus. The morphology and habitat of this unusual troglophilous species, named Phrynus abstrusus, sp. nov., are described herein.