Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="stones" data-source="post: 1385607" data-attributes="member: 540734">The narrative included with the photo above is as misleading as the photo&#039;s use of exaggerated perspective. Solifugids are commonly called camel spiders simply because they share the desert with camels, not because they eat them. The spiders are, indeed, very quick and frighteningly aggressive. They have a strong bite, but rarely attack humans or larger animals. Primarily, they prey on other arthropods, like scorpions, but have been known to kill lizards, mice and birds.Many of the rumors about camel spiders (which technically aren&#039;t spiders, but are arachnids) commonly in circulation originated from the 1991 Gulf War. Other versions of the text accompanying the photo insist that these creatures scream when they run, are capable of running 25 mph and are extremely venomous. Reality, however, is not as horrifying.Camel spiders are quick, but far from capable of the speeds attributed to them, and are completely silent. They are fearsome hunters, but are not venomous, though their bite may produce slight numbness and extreme pain.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="stones, post: 1385607, member: 540734"] The narrative included with the photo above is as misleading as the photo's use of exaggerated perspective. Solifugids are commonly called camel spiders simply because they share the desert with camels, not because they eat them. The spiders are, indeed, very quick and frighteningly aggressive. They have a strong bite, but rarely attack humans or larger animals. Primarily, they prey on other arthropods, like scorpions, but have been known to kill lizards, mice and birds. Many of the rumors about camel spiders (which technically aren't spiders, but are arachnids) commonly in circulation originated from the 1991 Gulf War. Other versions of the text accompanying the photo insist that these creatures scream when they run, are capable of running 25 mph and are extremely venomous. Reality, however, is not as horrifying. Camel spiders are quick, but far from capable of the speeds attributed to them, and are completely silent. They are fearsome hunters, but are not venomous, though their bite may produce slight numbness and extreme pain. [/QUOTE]

Verification