Camel spiders, often a source of fascination and fear, are arachnids that frequently appear in discussions about desert wildlife. People often confuse these creatures with true spiders or scorpions due to their intimidating appearance. Understanding their actual nature and distribution helps to clarify the many questions surrounding them, particularly regarding their presence in specific regions like Arizona.
Presence in Arizona
Camel spiders, scientifically known as solifugae, are found in Arizona. While often associated with Middle Eastern deserts, their range extends across arid and semi-arid regions globally, including the southwestern United States. In Arizona, these arachnids thrive in the hot, dry desert environments. They are well-adapted to these climates, blending into sandy and gravelly terrain. They are often observed in areas like the Sonoran Desert.
They seek shelter in shaded crevices, under rocks, or by burrowing into the ground to escape intense daytime heat. Their presence is a natural part of the desert ecosystem, where they control insect populations. While they can climb walls to find food, their primary habitat remains within the ground.
Characteristics and Behavior
Despite their common name, camel spiders are not true spiders or scorpions; they belong to the distinct arachnid order Solifugae. Their body divides into two main segments: an opisthosoma (abdomen) and a prosoma (combined head and thorax). A distinguishing feature is their large jaws, called chelicerae, which can be up to one-third of their body length. These powerful jaws crush and tear prey, but do not inject venom.
Camel spiders are tan to dark brown and covered in fine hairs, which provide insulation against desert heat. They appear to have ten legs, but the front two are pedipalps, leg-like sensory appendages used for feeling surroundings and manipulating prey. These arachnids are primarily nocturnal, hunting during cooler night hours. They are opportunistic carnivores, feeding on insects, other spiders, and sometimes small vertebrates like lizards and rodents, liquefying prey with digestive fluids. They are known for their speed, capable of reaching up to 10 miles per hour.
Common Misconceptions
Many myths surround camel spiders, often exaggerating their size, speed, and danger to humans. One widespread misconception is that they can grow as large as a human leg or half a human. In reality, the largest species reach about 6 inches in length, including their legs. Images portraying them as much larger often result from forced perspective photography.
Another common myth suggests camel spiders run at speeds of 25 miles per hour or more and will chase people. While fast, their top speed is closer to 10 miles per hour, and they cannot match human running speed. When they appear to “chase” a person, they are seeking shade from the sun, often moving towards a person’s shadow. Despite their fearsome appearance and powerful jaws, camel spiders are not venomous and pose little threat to humans; their bite can be painful but is not medically significant and does not contain anesthetic properties. The myth of them attacking camels or burrowing into skin is also false, with their name likely originating from their presence in camel habitats.