Camel Spider Jaws and Other Strange Features are Described for the Very First Time

For the first time ever, scientists have created a visual atlas and dictionary of terms of the many strange features on the fearsome-looking jaws of camel spiders. This little known group of arachnids are neither spiders nor scorpions, and are known for their massive jaws.

"Our limited understanding of the incredible jaws of these arachnids, together with terminology that is unstandardized and even contradictory, has hindered our ability to classify them and figure out where they fit in the arachnid tree of life because, much like the cranial anatomy of vertebrates, the jaws of solifuges contain most of the relevant information," said Lorenzo Prendini, one of the researchers, in a news release. "The last time there was a major publication of this kind on camel spiders was in 1934, which, considering how conspicuous and ubiquitous they are in some parts of the world, is almost unbelievable."

In all, there are about 1,100 species of camel spiders which range in size from tiny, a few millimeters long, to about 15 centimeters in length. The arachnids look like big, hairy spiders with an extra pair of legs, which are really leg-like structures ending in an adhesive sucker that they use like arms for grasping, holding and climbing. These arachnids differ from spiders and scorpions in three ways: their massive, two-segmented jaws, the flagellum found on the jaws of adult males that is thought to play a role in reproduction, and the malleoli, sensory organs on the underside of the first segment of the last pair of legs.

"Camel spiders are extremely difficult to collect and study, which may explain why they are so poorly known," said Prendini. "They're very seasonal, short-lived, and fast-moving animals. Many live in the hottest, driest, and most dangerous places in the world, and usually only the adult males can be identified to species with any confidence."

The researchers combined observations from high-resolution microscopy of specimens with existing literature to create nearly 80 terms for structures of similar appearance and position. This could drastically help researchers been describe this strange group of species.

The findings are published in the journal Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History.

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