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Solifugid
This is a Solifugid, or Solpugid, commonly called a Sun-Spider or Wind-Scorpion or Camel-Spider. Though it is an Arachnid, unlike both Spiders and Scorpions, these creatures do not have venom, and though its powerful jaws (jaws can be up to 1/3 of their body length) are capable of a painful bite, it is not considered dangerous. Camel spiders are not deadly to humans (though their bite is painful), but they are vicious predators that feed on insects, rodents, lizards, and small birds. Camel spiders can grow up to 15 centimeters long.
They are found all over the world, reportedly excluding Australia, and are associated with deserts and semi-arid areas.
Even though the Sun-spiders or Camel spiders are described as small to medium sized spiders, this bugger looked pretty large to me - roughly a bit bigger than my palm... and it looked rather unfriendly - I had the impression that it was hissing at me or getting ready to jump at my camera (probably the fear of mine influencing) ...
Spotted on Mar 7, 2014
Submitted on May 2, 2015
6 Comments
Wow!
One showy spider!
awesome!
I wonder if this one is so vivid because it had just molted then?
Thanks Ashley. Interesting thing is that a friend of mine, a naturalist from Sudan, who helped me ID it, said the same thing. He had a load of photos of the same species, all of them rather drub, earthy color...
So beautiful, Zlatan! I love these guys a lot, and I've never seen one this yellow before!