Phalanx spider description and photo (camel spider, solpuga)

The camel spider has several names - fever, phalanx, solpuga, scorpion of the wind, solar spider. In South Africa, they are called hairdressers. Literally, Solifugae translates as "running away from the sun." Phalanx spider is different from typical arachnids. The arthropod was attributed to this class because of the presence of a chelicera, long limbs. Worldwide, there are more than 1 thousand species of phalanges.They live in deserts, steppe, arid zone with high temperature.

Photo and description of the phalanx spider

It looks like a scorpion, spider, insect. The unique creature looks frightening, behaves aggressively, runs fast, jumps, has a tight shell. Such features make it virtually invulnerable.

Camel spider - a kind of creature with a combination of primitive features and signs of high development. The body consists of the abdomen, chest, head. Covered with durable shell, long hairs. Abdomen elongated, divided into several segments. Fringe size is not more than 7 cm.

Long powerful limbs attached to the chest, head. Only legs 8, but long tentacles are very similar to another pair of paws, perform similar functions. Tentacles and powerful jaws on the head are directed forward, in shape similar to claws. Serve for grinding solid food. Hind legs slightly longer. With their help, the spider solpuga develops great speed, and also jumps to a distance of 1 m.

Coloring bichorki resembles a scorpion. The abdomen is dark brown, closer to black. Head, claws orange, red. Chest, limbs red or light brown.The hairs are blond all over. A photo of a camel spider is presented below. The color scheme is different depending on the type.

Interesting!

The eye device is different from spiders - there are no simple eyes. Complex eyes are placed in front, on the sides of the cephalothorax, instantly react to light, movement. This feature makes the solpugu an excellent hunter and invulnerable prey.

Camel Spider (Solpuga, Phalanx Spider)

Habitats

Camel spider lives in desert, semi-desert regions, steppes. Prefers dry land, high temperature. Many species live in the Gobi Desert, in the North Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Astrakhan, Transcaucasia, the Lower Volga Region, and Volgograd. In Europe, found in Greece, Spain.

Spider camel digs holes in the soil, hiding under stones, snags.

On a note!

Solpuga is predominantly nocturnal, but some species are active during the day and are not afraid of sunlight. Phalanxes are afraid of people, trying to quickly hide, but their negligence often penetrate into the living room.

Behavior features

Solpugs are aggressive creatures. They attack absolutely everyone they can handle.Their victims are often insects, spiders, caterpillars, as well as rodents, birds, lizards, snakes. Phalanxes fearlessly rush into battle with a scorpion, often winning.

Solpugs wait for the victim in a secluded place, at its sight they take an awesome position - they lift the chest, pull the tentacles forward.

Interesting!

Phalanxes are running at a speed of 16 km per hour, so it is very difficult to get away from such a predator. If necessary, solpuga jumps in length over a distance of 1 m.

Nutrition

Extremely voracious fertilized females. If you manage to defeat the rodent, at one time eats everything. Powerful jaws breaks the shell, gnawing insides. The murder weapon is claws, tentacles, powerful jaws. Poison spider does not inject, the victim does not paralyze.

The main diet - insects, beetles, spiders. Larger species attack chicks, rodents, lizards, frogs, toads, scorpions. There are practically no natural enemies of solpug. The power of the helicopter allows you to easily cut off feathers, wool, cut through the skin, shell, crush thin bones.

On a note!

When attacking, the phalanges emit an unpleasant piercing squeak, chanting.

Camel Spider (Solpuga, Phalanx Spider)

Pairing

Marriage games take place at night. The female attracts males by smell. Fertilization is spermatozoon. Before mating, the young female is so inert that the “boyfriend” has to carry her along. After fertilization the phalanx becomes brisk. If the male does not have time to escape from her, he risks becoming a victim.

Embryo development begins inside the Solpugi. After some time, the female lays eggs in a previously prepared mink. Cubs are born with a thin chitinous cover, extremely vulnerable, immobile. Mother guards them until the first molt, brings food. After 2 weeks, the young molt, increase in size, acquire a characteristic color, the shell hardens.

How much young phalanxes fade until they grow up, how many then live is not known for certain. Approximately an adult lives 1 year.

Poisonous or not camel spider

Glands that produce a toxic substance, have no sapug. The phalanges are not poisonous, but they bite very painfully. People are attacked only in the event of a threat to their own lives. Powerful jaws gnaw through the skin, leaving deep wounds. Bruises, hematomas, swelling, redness remain at the site of the bite.However, only large individuals are capable of such a “feat”, nothing remains of the young solpugs on the body.

On a note!

Since the claws often contain remnants of rotting food, the infection gets into the wound. After a few days, itching, suppuration, blisters appear. In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, the bite site must be immediately sanitized. In the presence of a secondary infection, symptoms are eliminated by broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Salpugu is attracted by the ultraviolet light of a lamp, so it often sneaks into a house, a tent, and household extensions. Killing it is almost impossible. Predator runs fast, jumps well, has a durable shell. The only way out is to drive it out. But first you should tuck the pants in socks, wear gloves, take a broom or a stick.

Phalanx spiders are among the most unique animals on the planet. The detachment includes 13 families, 1 thousand species, 140 genera. For unknown reasons, they are not in arid areas of Australia.