Solifugae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Solifugae Temporal range: late Carboniferous to present
Male solifugid in South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Subclass:	Dromopoda
Order:	Solifugae

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. Much like a spider, the body of a Solifugid is separated into an opisthosoma (abdomen) and a prosoma (a combined head and thorax). Unlike scorpions, they do not have tails, and they do not have venom.

Most species of Solifugids live in dry climates. They are found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The largest species grow to a length of 12–15 cm (5–6 in), including legs. They are not normally dangerous to people.

Images for kids

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  Ventral aspect of a solifuge, showing respiratory slots

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  Chewing movement of the chelicerae in solifuges dorsal view (top) and side view (bottom)

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  Lateral aspect of chelicera, showing teeth and cutting edge

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  Male solifuge in South African veld: Its flagella are visible near the tips of the chelicerae, looking like large, backward-curling bristles. As in most species, it holds its pedipalps clear of the ground; its front legs serve as tactile sensors, barely touching the ground with their setae.

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  A female of a species in the family Solpugidae showing the malleoli beneath the posterior pair of legs

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  Solifuge eyes with bristles

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  Gluvia dorsalis eating a cabbage bug (Eurydema oleracea)

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  A scorpion (left) fighting a solifuge (right)

See also

In Spanish: Solífugos para niños