Mastigoproctus is a genus of whip scorpions, also called giant whip scorpion, giant vinegaroon, or grampus. Around 30 species have been described. Despite some popular beliefs, they are not dangerous to humans as are not venomous as they do not possess venom glands.
Ecology They are efficient predators that usually feed at night on a variety of arthropods, especially small insects such as cockroaches and crickets, as well as millipedes, worms, slugs and other arachnids. They have even been recorded feeding on small frogs and toads. They use their large pedipalps to hold prey, while the mechanical action of their chelicerae tear and bite the prey.
Economic impact Mastigoproctus are regarded as beneficial to agriculture and human residences by controlling populations of stinging scorpion, insects, or spiders.
Habitat Several species of Mastigoproctus occur across Mexico, where habitats vary from pasturelands to pine/oak forest, at sites with altitudes ranging from near sea level to 2440 m above sea level.
In the southern USA, the recently described Mastigoproctus tohono Barrales-Alcalá, Francke & Prendini, 2018 is found in Arizona. This was distinguished from the Central Mexican Mastigoproctus giganteus (Lucas, 1835) with which it has been historically confused. Elsewhere in the southern USA, Mastigoproctus can also be found in New Mexico, and Western Texas. A geographically isolated species Mastigoproctus floridanus Lönnberg, 1897 occurs in Florida
A few other species are known only from the Caribbean, from Cuba or Dominican Republic and Haiti. A few other species have been recorded in historical studies from South America, although most of the latter have never been restudied since first described.
Species , the World Uropygi Catalog accepts the following twenty-five species: Mastigoproctus abeli Villarreal & Giupponi, 2009 – Venezuela Mastigoproctus annectens Werner, 1916 – Brazil Mastigoproctus ayalai Viquez & Armas, 2007 – Venezuela Mastigoproctus baracoensis Franganillo, 1931 – Cuba Mastigoproctus brasilianus (C. L. Koch, 1843) – Brazil Mastigoproctus butleri Pocock, 1894 – Brazil Mastigoproctus cinteotl Barrales-Alcalá, Francke & Prendini, 2018 – Mexico Mastigoproctus claritae Torres-Muñoz, Lira & González-Santillán 2026 – Mexico Mastigoproctus colombianus Mello-Leitão, 1940 – Colombia Mastigoproctus floridanus Lönnberg, 1897 – USA Mastigoproctus formidabilis Hirst, 1912 – Venezuela Mastigoproctus franckei Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, 2023 – Mexico Mastigoproctus giganteus (Lucas, 1835) – Mexico (only historical records from United States) Mastigoproctus lacandonensis Ballesteros & Francke, 2006 – Mexico Mastigoproctus maximus (Tarnani, 1889) – Brazil Mastigoproctus mexicanus (Butler, 1872) – Mexico Mastigoproctus minensis Mello-Leitão, 1931 – Brazil Mastigoproctus perditus Mello-Leitão, 1931 – Brazil Mastigoproctus proscorpio (Latreille, 1806) – Dominican Republic, Haiti, [Martinique ?] Mastigoproctus santiago Teruel, 2010 – Cuba Mastigoproctus scabrosus Pocock, 1902 – Mexico Mastigoproctus spinifemoratus Castro-Pereira, Pinto-da-Rocha & Prendini 2025 – Mexico Mastigoproctus tohono Barrales-Alcalá, Francke & Prendini, 2018 – Mexico Mastigoproctus vandevenderi Barrales-Alcalá, Francke & Prendini, 2018 – Mexico Mastigoproctus xetame Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, 2023 – Mexico Mastigoproctus yalchanchak Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, 2023 – Mexico
Of these, several Mexican and USA species have historically been confused with Mastigoproctus giganteus (Localities adapted from Castro-Pereira et al. 2025 [Table 1], and Torres-Muñoz et al. 2026 [Table 2]:
USA & Northern Mexico: Mastigoproctus floridanus Lönnberg, 1897 – USA (Florida) [?] "Mastigoproctus" excubitor Girard, 1853 – USA (Louisiana?) [Usually treated as synonym] Mastigoproctus tohono Barrales-Alcalá, Francke & Prendini, 2018 – Mexico (Sonora), USA (Arizona) Mastigoproctus vandevenderi Barrales-Alcalá, Francke & Prendini, 2018 – Mexico (Sonora)
(North)western Mexico: Mastigoproctus mexicanus (Butler, 1872) – Mexico (Aguascalientes, Jalisco [north], possibly Durango [?], Nayarit [?]) Mastigoproctus xetame Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, 2023 – Mexico (Jalisco [inland]) Mastigoproctus claritae Torres-Muñoz, Lira & González-Santillán 2026 – Mexico (Jalisco [coastal])
(North)eastern Mexico: Mastigoproctus spinifemoratus Castro-Pereira, Pinto-da-Rocha & Prendini 2025 – Mexico (Nuevo León, Tamaulipas) Mastigoproctus cinteotl Barrales-Alcalá, Francke & Prendini, 2018 – Mexico (Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas) Mastigoproctus franckei Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, 2023 – Mexico (San Luis Potosí)
Central or Eastern Gulf Mexico: Mastigoproctus scabrosus Pocock, 1902 – Mexico (Oaxaca, Veracruz, plausibly Chiapas) Mastigoproctus giganteus (Lucas, 1835) – Mexico (Morelos) [Contra historical records from US]
Southern Mexico: Mastigoproctus yalchanchak Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, 2023 – Mexico (Chiapas) Mastigoproctus lacandonensis Ballesteros & Francke, 2006 – Mexico (Chiapas)
Else also see Mastigoproctus transoceanicus Lazell, 2000 (Junior subjective synonym of Typopeltis cantonensis)
References
External links