Ive heard of these gigantic spiders in Iraq. And something about them killing camels. Is that true? How dangerousw are they to people? Any returned soldiers want to comment?
2006-06-17 19:32:33 · 5 answers · asked by PuppetDog 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
They are the spiders with the big hump on their backs. And if they bite you you'll get CAMEL TOE!!!!! So don't mess wit'em.
2006-06-17 19:38:00 · answer #1 · answered by Jade Ariana 3 · 8⤊ 6⤋
The order Solifugae is a group of arachnids, containing around 900 species. The name derives from Latin, and means those that flee from the sun. The order is also known by the names Solpugida, Solpugides, Solpugae, Galeodea and Mycetophorae. Their common names include windscorpion, sun spider and camel spider.
Solifugae are not true spiders (which are from a different order, Araneae). Like scorpions and harvestmen, they belong to a distinct arachnid order.
Most Solifugae live in tropical or semitropical regions where they inhabit warm and arid habitats, but some species have been known to live in grassland or forest habitats. The most distinctive feature of Solifugae is their large chelicerae. Each of the two chelicerae are composed of two articles forming a powerful pincer; each article bears a variable number of teeth. Males in all families but Eremobatidae possess a flagellum on the basal article of the chelicera. Solifugae also have long pedipalps, which function as sense organs similar to insects' antennae and give the appearance of the two extra legs. Pedipalps terminate in eversible adhesive organs.
Solifugae are carnivorous or omnivorous, with most species feeding on termites, darkling beetles, and other small arthropods. Prey is located with the pedipalps and killed and cut into pieces by the chelicerae. The prey is then liquefied and the liquid ingested through the pharynx.
Reproduction can involve direct or indirect sperm transfer; when indirect, the male emits a spermatophore on the ground and then inserts it with his chelicerae in the female's genital pore.
As indicated by their name, Solifugae are mostly nocturnal, and seek shade during the day. It was this behaviour which led coalition soldiers in the 2003 invasion of Iraq to think these arachnids were attacking them. In reality, they were merely moving toward the newly available shade provided by the soldiers' presence. The absence of shade sends them away
2006-06-18 07:02:06 · answer #2 · answered by palaver 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very fast and large spider species that does not appear to be poisonous (according to biologists). Their size was originally an internet myth (they were made to look like giants) ... they have large fangs which can do some damage if they bite you.
2006-06-17 21:52:29 · answer #3 · answered by icehoundxx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're giagant spiders that aren't a real threat to your life, however, they can scare the mess out of you if you spot one near by.
2006-06-17 22:04:55 · answer #4 · answered by nuked25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way they aere dangerouse to people is that they can give you two humps and make you hunch back.
2006-06-17 19:36:50 · answer #5 · answered by Tina M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋