Camel Spider

Marty · #1 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 10:58 PM

I'm going to a friend tomorrow to check out his new pet, the camel spider. He picked it up at a show. He says it's wickedly vicious and eats anything that moves. He said, it had 6 crix in its mouth at one time.

I'll take my camera and try to snap a few pictures

his CS is about 6" long

Click here to see it Huge

M.

Tindomul1of9 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-01-2006, 09:33 AM

OMG, thats one wierde spider! Get those pics in fast.

Marty · #3 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 05:49 PM

I found out that the camel spider isn't really a spider. It's an arachnid, but not a true spider as it lacks the ability to weive a web. It's a solpugid.

Mrnicolai · #4 (**permalink**) 06-11-2006, 09:43 PM

solpugid??? what the heck is that???

Pavel · #5 (**permalink**) 06-21-2006, 06:41 PM

Also known erroneously as a 'sun spider' or 'wind scorpion', solpugids [Family Solpugidae order Solifugae] are very cool. Unlike spiders or tarantulas, they have both upper and lower chelicera [4 fangs not two]. They are very active, speedy hunters. Some species get quite large -- 5+ inch legspan. Unfortunately, they don't have very long life spans as I recall -- only a few years. Here's a website to checkout: www.solpugid.com The National Geographic link is worth checking out.

Jason · #6 (**permalink**) 04-28-2008, 05:19 AM

I dont think it wat a dingo that ate my baby!!!!

Marty · #7 (**permalink**) 04-28-2008, 08:15 AM

famous photo that's been circulating the web... Camera trick, the spider is really close to the lens..they don't get 3 feet long

Jumpshot724 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 02:05 PM

There are so many rumors about these things circulating because they are quite scary when you first come across one and the soldiers in Iraq ome across these all the times. Google "Camel Spider Bites", quite gruesome. Fun fact is that when these things bite you they inject sort of like a novacaine so you don't feel a thing and then they just gnaw away at you until they're full. They're not poisonous though, that's the one good thing.

The scariest thing about these is if it's in the sun and you come across one it will chase you (not really, it just wants your shadow to stay cool) but that freaks a lot of people out.

M1A1 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 02:03 AM

I had a platoon sergeant who was clearing houses outside of Ramadi and ran into one. He said the first two Marines ran in the door and quickly ran back out saying something to the effect of having been challenged by a camel spider by the door. So they shot it.

I can't blame them; I'd hate dealing with one of those. I've heard some horrible personal accounts involving camel spiders.

Marty · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 08:11 AM

hehe...funny...these things are just a few inches long

Maybe the platoon sergeant was arachnophobic