Solifugae

Solifugae; Temporal range: ; late Carboniferous to present
	File:Solfugid in veld near Uniondale (Western Cape) 1599.jpg
	Male solifugid in South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Subclass:	Dromopoda
Order:	Solifugae

Solifugae is an order of arachnids sometimes called 'camel spiders', 'wind scorpions' or 'sun spiders'. Although they look rather like spiders, they are not spiders, and they are not scorpions.

The order includes more than 1,000 species in about 153 genera. Much like a spider, the body of a Solifugid is separated into an opisthosoma (abdomen) and a prosoma (a combined head and thorax). Unlike scorpions, they do not have tails, and they do not have venom.

Most species of Solifugids live in dry climates. They are found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The largest species grow to a length of 12–15 cm (5–6 in), including legs.^[1] They are not normally dangerous to people.^[2]^[3]

Solifugae Media

Solpugidae showing eyes with presumably protective bristles 2012 01 24 1019s.JPG

Solifuge eyes with bristly setae
Solfugid in veld near Uniondale (Western Cape) 1600.jpg

Male solifuge in South African veld. The flagella, appearing as large, backward-curling bristles, are visible near the tips of the chelicerae.
Solifugae Ventral aspect of respiratory slots 2012 01 24 0985s.JPG

Ventral aspect of a solifuge, showing spiracles and malleoli
Gluvia4.jpg

Gluvia dorsalis eating a cabbage bug (Eurydema oleracea)
Solifugo XIX.jpg

A scorpion (left) fighting a solifuge (right)

References

↑ G. Schmidt (1993). Giftige und gefährliche Spinnentiere (in German). Westarp Wissenschaften. ISBN 3-89432-405-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
↑ M. Aruchami & G. Sundara Rajulu (1978). "An investigation on the poison glands and the nature of the venom of Rhagodes nigrocinctus (Solifugae: Arachnida)". Nat. Acad. Sci. Letters (India). 1: 191–192.
↑ David Penney (2009). "Solifugae (camel spiders)". Common spiders and other arachnids of the Gambia, West Africa. Siri Scientific Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-9558636-3-9.

[schmidt93-1] G. Schmidt (1993). Giftige und gefährliche Spinnentiere (in German). Westarp Wissenschaften. ISBN 3-89432-405-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

[2] M. Aruchami & G. Sundara Rajulu (1978). "An investigation on the poison glands and the nature of the venom of Rhagodes nigrocinctus (Solifugae: Arachnida)". Nat. Acad. Sci. Letters (India). 1: 191–192.

[3] David Penney (2009). "Solifugae (camel spiders)". Common spiders and other arachnids of the Gambia, West Africa. Siri Scientific Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-9558636-3-9.

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