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.
| Solifugae Temporal range:
late Carboniferous to present | |
|---|---|
_1599.jpg)
| |
| Male solifugid in South Africa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Subclass: | |
| Order: | Solifugae
|
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
Solifugae Ventral aspect of respiratory slots 2012 01 24 0985s
Chewing movement of the chelicerae in solifuges dorsal view (top) and side view (bottom)
Solifugae Chelicera lateral aspect 2012 01 24 0999s
Male solifuge in South African veld: Its flagella are visible near the tips of the chelicerae, looking like large, backward-curling bristles. As in most species, it holds its pedipalps clear of the ground; its front legs serve as tactile sensors, barely touching the ground with their setae.
A female of a species in the family Solpugidae showing the malleoli beneath the posterior pair of legs
Solifuge eyes with bristles
Gluvia dorsalis eating a cabbage bug (Eurydema oleracea)
A scorpion (left) fighting a solifuge (right)
_1600.jpg)
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.