Solifugae is an order of arachnids known variously as solifuges, sun spiders, camel spiders, and wind scorpions. The order includes more than 1,000 described species in about 147 genera. Despite the common names, they are neither true scorpions (order Scorpiones) nor true spiders (order Araneae).

The site provides information about the biology, taxonomy, and distribution of arachnids contained in the order Solifugae, commonly called “camel spiders.” It is our hope that this site will promote a better understanding of these unique arachnids and …

Mar 30, 2024 · Although found worldwide, these solifugids predominantly inhabit arid environments, engaging in opportunistic predation on terrestrial arthropods and various small animals. Each camel spider has a striking appearance, with the body of a hairy spider and a face with jaws or ‘chelicerae’ resembling a crab’s pincers.

Solifuges are solitary, have no venom glands and are not a threat to people although they are very aggressive and fast moving and can inflict a painful bite. The name of the solifuge originates from the Latin ‘solifuga’ (a kind of venomous ant, or spider) that is in turn derived from ‘fugere’ (to flee; fly, run away) and ‘sol’ (sun).

Spanning over a century, the works of solifuge researchers in taxonomy and systematics have described 15 families in this order of arachnids along with various fossilized extinct lineages. Today, this order comprises 15 families, over 140 genera, and over 1200 described species.

Solifuges vary from a few millimeters to 10 centimeters in length and look superficially like stout, hairy, fast-running spiders with an extra pair of legs (leg-like, sensory pedipalps, held out in front of the body). Because they hold their pedipalps in front of the body while running, they also look a bit like desert zombies!

Solifugae is an order of arachnids sometimes called 'camel spiders', 'wind scorpions' or 'sun spiders'. Although they look rather like spiders, they are not spiders, and they are not scorpions. The order includes more than 1,000 species in about 153 genera.

Solifugae is an order of animals in the class Arachnida known variously as camel spiders, wind scorpions, sun spiders, or solifuges. The order includes more than 1,000 described species in about 153 genera. Despite the common names, they are neither true scorpions (order Scorpiones) nor true spiders (order Araneae).

Mar 19, 2024 · Eight-legged, somewhat scorpion-like, but lacking the tail. Elongated pedipalps look like an extra set of legs, but are used as sensory organs, similar to antennae. …

Here, we review the current solifuge literature through the lens of conceptual research areas in ecology, evolution, and behaviour and propose ways in which solifuges can contribute to research in specific subfields, as follows: (i) ecology: community and trophic dynamics; connecting food webs; habitat specialization; and biodiversity and conser...