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Spider Photos - Tailless Whip Scorpions/Whip Scoprions |
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Tailless whip scorpions look at first glance like spiders. The first
appendages (pedipalps) are modified for grasping prey, with hook-like
projections. The first true pair of legs is modified to serve as
“feelers,” and are long, delicate, and whip-like, with many fine hairs.
Tailless whip scorpions are reclusive predators of
insects. They hunt nocturnally, using their long, delicate first pair of
legs to find their food. The spined pedipalps impale and crush the prey
and then transfer it to the chelicerae (jaws). Tailless whip-scorpions
can only pinch their prey; they lack venom glands.
Their relation, the whip scorpion have a
life pattern similar to the true scorpions, but they do not possess a
poisonous sting. Their flat body enables them to squeeze into extremely
narrow cracks and crevices, where they prey on small arthropods and
worms. A few of the larger species also attack small vertebrates,
especially frogs. The palps are developed into strong pincers equipped
with sharp teeth and spines, which are used for catching and crushing
prey. The first pair of legs are generally much longer and thinner than
the other three pairs, and may have more a tactile function rather than
walking. The species shown opposite belongs to the family Theliphonidae,
whose members have a characteristic long, thread-like tail. The tail,
which bears numerous fine hairs, has only a sensory function, but can be
waved about in a whip-like manner - hence the common name. Although whip
scorpions are not poisonous, some species defend themselves by squirting
an acrid fluid from defence glands situated at the base of the tail.
n the other families of the order, the tail is much
reduced or absent altogether - these forms are sometimes called whip
spiders, rather than whip scorpions. The group as a whole is largely
confined to the tropics and sub-tropics, but nevertheless widely
distributed with representatives found in China, Japan, India and other
parts of Southern Asia, the greater part of Africa, and in Central and
South America.
All photos are copyright to their
owners and may not be reproduced without permission.
Please choose a
section.
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Reply: Looks like a whip scorpion.
http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/whipscorp.htm
13 June, 2006:
hey, my name is joshua and my wife and i were leaving our
appartment when we saw this thing in the dirt out side. it is still alive
even though its legs are tucked under it self. At first glance i thought it
was a scorpion, but after closer reveiw i thought that it may be some sort
of solfugid. im not sure about all of the characteristics to determine or
decipher its classification. i do know that this thing has some sort of long
tail approx. an inch or inch and a half. i dont know if if you can see it in
the pics. please e mail me back. thanx joshua
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TAILLESS WHIP SCORPIONS |
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15 February, 2007:
Can you tell us what kind of spider this is? It was found on the wall of our
bodega in Zihuatanejo Mexico (January 2007).
The picture beside the spider is about 9 X 14 inches.
Thanks
Jean Thomson
Canada
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14 July, 2006:
I found this
spider in my garage in Lake Havasu, AZ. Have no idea what it is. Can you
help me? Thanks, Jason
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15 January, 2006:
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Reply: It's a tailless whipscorpion
and harmless.
19 April, 2005:
Hi Glen i hope you can help with this, i live in the UK and
my Dad works out in Africa in Ghana in the jungle for a tree felling
company, he knows im terrified of spiders and sent me this photo he
took of one near his house !!
he wants to know what it is and when im coming to visit!!! never now
i've seen this thing. Apparently its the size of a dinner plate!
thanks Jo Brundall |
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Reply: Looks like a
Tailless Whipscorpion to me.
6 January, 2005:
Hi Glen. Saw your website. My wife and I saw lots of spiders
in Costa Rica, but this one takes the cake! Big and gnarly this one!
I've never seen a spider with arms that extend out from either side
of it's head with scorpion-like pincher/stingers on the end.
Unfortunately, our local guide killed it because they were pretty
darn sure it was poisonous. Any ideas what kind this guy is???
Thanks.Carrington Barrs |
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13 August, 2004
Do you have any idea what this is? With
legspan it was about 3" across.
I took the pic on my patio in Tucson, Arizona
last night.
Thanks,
John |
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19
September, 2002:
Buenos dias
La presente es para contarles que en el patio de mi casa encontre un
animal extraño que parece araña, tiene patas largas, y dos flagelos
como antenas, y
tiene unas tenazas. Les envio una foto de este animal para
saber si ustedes tienen datos que me
puedan proporcionar y saber cual es el nombre y que clase de animal
es.
Gracias,
Atentamente,
Alfonso Ordoñez,
Guatemala, Guatemala,
Centro America,
E-mail:
alfonsoordonez@icasa.com.gt |
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