Camel Spider
& Other Iraqi Creatures
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(Picture borrowed from another site)
The name “camel spider” is not entirely accurate. They are not exactly spiders; they are solifugids -- sort of a cross between a spider and a scorpion. They vary in size, between 1 to 6 inches, depending on the species, sex or age. They do not spin webs and most types (more than 500 species) do not have venom. There is one species that may live in the Southwest Asia area that has a type of venom that causes temporary paralysis in the victim. All species have four pincer-like jaws used for crushing prey. The main risks presented by camel spider bites are shock or infection.
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The species we have depicted here are active during the day the most. We see them scurrying from one place to another trying to find good shade. One had happened upon the other's hiding place by mistake and they started fighting near one of our trucks. This was the first time we had seen camel spiders fighting. The two were evenly matched and their mandible jaws were locked. This fight went on for 20 minutes until SGT Hoinowski's camera flashed in their eyes and they split.
Camel spiders are voracious eaters. This one is shown here chomping on another ones head in the first two pics. The same camel spider is shown eating a cricket that got too close. When he was done with that, a lizard of half its size was eaten bones and all in ten minutes.
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