What Are Camel Spiders?

Question: What Are Camel Spiders?

Since the start of the Iraq War in 2003, stories about a giant, deadly spider that attacks soldiers and eats the bellies out of camels have run rampant on the Internet. Camel spiders do inhabit Iraqi deserts, as well as many other arid parts of the world. Let's set the record straight on these arthropods. Exactly what are camel spiders?

Answer:

Camel spiders are not spiders at all. They belong to the arachnid order Solifugae, and are more closely related to pseudoscorpions than they are to spiders. Solifuges, or solifugids as they are also called, inhabit the world's arid climates, preferring environments with little vegetation. These predators generally hunt at night, feeding on other invertebrates (including spiders).

Camel spiders vary in size from several millimeters in length to 4 inches (or 10 centimeters). Like other arachnids, camel spiders have four pairs of legs. They carry an enlarged pair of pedipalps in front, which may give them the appearance of having a fifth set of legs. Solifugids looks a bit like scorpions, but lack the scorpion tail.

Camel spiders are entirely non-venomous, although they do bite in defense. A camel spider bite may lead to infection if the bite area is not cleaned properly.