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May 10, 2010
T A Y L O R
G O M E Z
Camel Spiders
Camel Spiders Make the World Go Round
A junior year internship is mandatory at Denver School of Science and
Technology. I signed up for one at a law firm thinking I would get an opportunity to sharpen my legal skills. Instead, I got something far different:
Arachnology program at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
(DMNS). “Ugh,” I thought. “I hate spiders.”
My first day at my internship, I met my mentor Dr. Paula Cushing,
Department Chair of Zoology and Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, and Jack
Brookhart, her research associate. I started out learning how to identify spiders, but before I could master it, Paula decided to introduce me to something
totally different from true spiders: camel spiders. The moment I saw a camel
spider, my view of the world shifted tremendously.
From then on, I learned all about camel spiders, and my job was to
identify the different characteristics between families. Outside, it would be
scorching; but, inside the lab would be freezing. Most times, it was easy to
focus on my job because I would usually be the only one in the lab. I would
grab a vial with 100% alcohol and a camel spider preserved inside. I would
take out the specimen with tweezers and place it in a small plate preferably
with sand at the bottom. With careful attention to detail, I deciphered which
families are more related to which and where they fall on
an
evolutionary timeline. I did this by using an Olympus
SZX12 microscope with a camera attached at the top.
Specimens were placed so that I could take pictures at different focus levels. Working with a sophisticated microscope, I felt like I was on a forensic science show. I would
zoom in on the dorsal area and take a picture; I would repeat this process for about eight focus levels. Then, I
would use a program called Helicon Focus to stitch all the
pictures together to get one clear 3D picture. Once
all the pictures were taken for my specimens, each
would be scored for various characteristics including: sex, shape of anterior arci (arched shapes on
dorsal area), number of posterior arci, direction of
posterior arci curve, shape of mesapeltidium(another
plate on the dorsal part of the animal), and shape of
metapeltidium(yet another plate). Through my research I learned that the posterior arci and the mesapeltidium are, in fact, very useful in distinguishing
Olympus SZX12 microscope
members of families. The more I zoomed in on details of a camel spider, the more I concentrated on
the idea of why we should care about camel spiders and their significance to
the ecosystem.
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What is a camel spider?
The first time I saw a camel spider was in 2009. I thought it looked like a new insect alien probably
discovered in Area 51 (A military base in Nevada, rumored to be where the US government hides extraplanetary alien visitors). Of course, this wasn‟t true. I quickly became accustomed to the way they looked,
but I still had a lot to learn. Camel spiders are, in my opinion, ugly creatures. Most camel spiders are tan,
brown, or black. Buzz all over the internet about camel spiders is causing people to believe that troops in the
Middle East are finding extremely large camel spiders in the desert because of misleading pictures. Camel
spiders have a bad reputation because there are stories about them "invading peoples' homes and inflicting
venomous bites," however, this is not true (Beccaloni 291). One of the first things I learned about a camel
spider is that they are not venomous. They may bite if they feel threatened, but it wouldn‟t be enough to kill a
human. It would probably just really hurt. Before I could fully understand why camel spiders are important, I
first had to learn what they are.
A camel spider is in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Arachnida, and Order Solifugae. Camel spiders share the following characteristics with other arachnids: they are “air-breathing” land invertebrate also known as an “arthropod characterized by simple eyes and four pairs of legs” (Princeton).
They have two parts to their body: posterior and anterior. The anterior part also known as the cephalothorax
has sense organs and mouthparts. “The first pair of limbs-the chelicerae-may form pincers or venom fangs,
and the second pair-the pedipalps-may serve as pincers, feelers, or legs” (“Arachnids” ). Each body part
serves a purpose like each of our parts. Fossils suggest that perhaps during the Devonian Period, 400 million
years ago, arachnids were among the first animals to live on land (“Arachnids”). Though they have been
around for a long time, scientists are still trying to figure out which are more primitive. There are about
90,000 species of arachnids known, and that still may be a gross underestimate.
Physical Characteristics
Considering that there is more than one type of arachnid, it is easy to trust that arachnids can be found
all over the world and in almost every terrestrial habitat. Most can be
found in warm dry and tropical regions. Contrary to common belief, the
biggest they can get is about 5-6 inches, but most only reach about 3
inches (camelspider). They have five legs and two body parts. “Its second
body part, called its abdomen or opisthosoma, is segmented. It has four
pairs of legs. It also has a pair of leg-like front appendages called pedipalps. Its front body part, called the prosoma or the propeltidium, is
shaped kind of like Mickey Mouse‟s head – it has two ear-shaped projections on the front part of the propeltidium. And in the very front of the
prosoma are its very large jaws, or chelicerae. The chelicerae take up half
the length of the prosoma. They are typically toothed and the animal can
use the chelicerae to tear prey apart” (Cushing). Camel spiders are unique
in the way that they posses fan-like structures called “malleoli” located
on the underside of the body and whose function is unknown (Beccaloni
291). Male solifugids have flagella, strange structures on the chelicerae, or jaws, of the males used in mating
and most "[camel spiders] are usually very hairy" (291). They are primitive and homogenous in appearance
(292).At first glimpse, this species look like mice because they are hairy and run fast. Some camel spider
family members like Solpugidae species are normally 'elegant' because of their long legs (292)."Solifugids
are often called camel spiders because many species have a prominent arched structure on the peltidium,
which is reminiscent of a camel's hump" (293). Their common name is also a camel spider because they live
in the desert like most camels do. As mentioned earlier, camel spiders are not venomous, but their bite can
definitely be painful. This is because "[camel spiders] are the great white sharks of the arachnid world, as
they have enormous jaws. As well as for prey capture and to tear apart and macerate tissues, the chelicerae
are used to dig burrows, as well as in threat posturing, fighting in mating" (293). Camel spiders are definitely
interesting to look at, but that‟s not all they have to offer.
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Behavior
Arachnids help balance nature which is important in all enviornments. A number of them are venomous,
but for the most part ones you will come across in everyday life are harmless. An important thing to remember about any animal is that they don‟t exist to prey on humans; they prefer to mind their own business. In fact, “most arachnids are solitary except at the time of mating. Females may guard [their] eggs or
young, which are often born live” (“Arachnids”). When they need to, all arachnids (not just spiders), hunt
or wait for small animals like insects to come to them (“Arachnids). Arachnids normally attack solely
when they feel threatened.
Much like all arachnids, camel spiders strategically have to keep away from the sun in order to
live. The name "Solifugae" comes from the Latin roots: „soli‟ referring to the sun and „fugae‟ meaning
"avoidance" (Beccaloni 291). This is ironic because camel spiders live in the desert where there is nothing
but the sun and the ground. If you are ever in the desert and you discover that a camel spider is following
you, don‟t fret, it is probably just trying to stay in your shadow. Since, camel spiders are cold blooded
creatures, too much direct sun can cause them to overheat. Though that‟s true, "there are some diurnal
species that are very active under the hot sun- hence their common name 'sun spider"(Beccaloni 291).
Camel spiders have to be “smart” about their daily activities.
All of these great features and characteristics of arachnids have purpose; whether their purpose is
to use them to reproduce, to catch prey, or to defend themselves. they play a huge role in the ecosystem
though they are small and seemingly insignificant. These animals play a role by simply existing and contributing to the cycle of life. All animals have significance and in order to help see their significance I
have put a lens over an animal that may not seem as significant because they are hardly known.
Importance of Camel Spiders
Many animals are becoming extinct, and it is affecting the ecosystem; on the other hand, new species of animals are being discovered. "There are currently, 1,000 species of [camel spiders] within 141
genera, in 12 families, though this is considered to be a gross underestimate" (Beccaloni 292)."Just as we
were about to leave … I spotted one jar that had something I thought I hadn't seen before," said Savary, a
research associate at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. "I pulled it out and said, 'Oh
my God!'" The new species has a horn on the top of its mouthparts, something that no other species in
North America has. "It was pretty easy to see that it was new," Savary said. The arachnologist plans to
name the species after Actaeon, a mythical Greek hunter who was transformed into a stag.” (National
Geographic News). This is great news to the science world because as time progresses society discovers
that more and more animals are becoming extinct, but it helps put those of us involved in science ease
when we hear that there are new species being discovered.
All creatures on this planet play a role in the ecosystem. "Our beleaguered planet currently harbors
some 9,600 bird species, 6,000 mammals, 4,000 reptiles, 4,000 amphibians, 24,000 fish, 250,000, seed
plants and ferns, and countless lesser organisms" and without any of them, life wouldn‟t be the same for
anyone (Terborgh 93). In order to see the significance of a camel spider to the ecosystem, one should first
understand that an ecosystem works as a system. Being that all creatures play a role in the ecosystem, any
can be shown to have significance.
Each animal or plant has a unique role called an ecological niche (Foskett 57). What many people
don‟t take into consideration is that removing species through the effects of pollution will reduce the
availability of prey (58) This will cause predators of any prey to lose food and limit their survival. If animals are affected, humans will be too. The "prevalent attitude" towards animals is to see them as products
or items of trade rather than live beings (Jordan 17-18). "Population growth and its impact on the use of
the world's resources is perhaps the most significant issue that exists" (Foskett 85). "Every second between 4 or 5 babies are born,
260,000 each day, an increase of 100 million each year" (Jordan 1).
"The current population of 5.8 billion is expected to double by the middle of the twenty-first century" (Terborgh 93). These statistics are
alarming; though there isn‟t much we can do to change the rate of
world population increase, we can be more conscious of the fact that
Planet Earth. Digital image. Web. 10 May 2010.
we share this planet with millions of other contributing creatures; not
<http://mariecurie.biz/blog/wpjust other humans.
content/uploads/2009/12/Planet-earth-
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The effects of changes in a habitat on an animal like a camel spider are not
as easy to understand as these changes are on a plant. Most people can easily see that plants are "anchored by their roots, and cannot, like other organisms, flee to find water or temporary shelter in shade or migrate to more favorable regions and return when conditions improve" (Sowell 24). So, they
must adapt in a dry and barren place like the desert in order to provide nutrients and oxygen to the earth. The same idea applies with camel spiders and
even all life in the desert. John Sowell did an experiment testing the "upper
temperature limits of [common desert animals, like] lizards and
snakes" (59). He noted that "strangely they did not seem to be able to stand
the heat of their own home [and] they died in minutes by overheating" (59).
Camel Spider. Digital image. Web. 10 May
2010. <http://www.richardBecause of the heat, desert animal activities are often “restricted to a narrow
seawindow of time" (60). Thus, most camel spiders are nocturnal. At night they
man.com/USA/States/California/Coachell
aValleyPreserve/SunSpider.jpg>.
are able to roam freely around the desert in search of prey without the risk
of overheating under the hot sun. They are also able to share the desert with
animals that are diurnal. Although arachnids are designed with unique adaptations to help keep cool they
still have to make smart decisions. Camel spiders stay in the shade during the day as much as possible and
even burrow in the sand for protection against the sun. While in their burrows, should any unsuspecting
predators come by, they would be ready to defend themselves.
Camel spiders are excellent hunters. Their sharp chelicerae help get the job done, but that doesn‟t
mean they always win their fights. If all animals could live a
full life, the world would be flooded with too many living
organisms. Darwin‟s survival of the fittest provides balance
to ecosystems. Thanks to the genes passed on from an individual‟s parents, it has specific traits that allow it to survive
in the desert (117). With those traits a camel spider, for instance, is able to survive long enough to grow, find a mate,
reproduce, protect their offspring and start a new cycle.
Ultimately, it is important to understand earth‟s diversity to know who you share your home with. “People
should care about camel spiders because we share our home,
planet earth with about 2 million other known species of
organisms” (Cushing). It‟s easy to see that glamorous animals are important but it should be second nature to see that
small, poorly known creatures like camel spiders hold value,
too.
Glamorous Animal– Panda Bear
Panda Bear. Digital image. Web. 10 May 2010.
<http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/animalwallpapers-pictures/panda-bear-wallpaper.jpg>.
In order to help others realize that camel spiders are just one example of a hardly known creature
of millions that we share our planet with, I opted to make a website about camel spiders. My website provides a reliable and easy way to get facts about camel spiders and learn about their importance. I am not a
science a person, but being assigned to work at DMNS helped broaden my horizons. This project was not
only challenging for me, but it also represents a share of curiosity of planet earth and the creatures we
share this planet with. People should be conscious of the fact that ugly animals like camel spiders that
seem to have no importance to everyone‟s lives actually do hold value. Millions of other animals that are
hardly known or are small are also greatly underappreciated. People don‟t all have to appreciate everything this world has to offer, but one should at least consider that we share our planet with millions of
other valuable creatures and learning about one may even be enlightening.
Gomez 5
Taylor Gomez
Ms. Lepore
Senior English pd. 1
10 May 2010
Works Cited
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www.”Arachnids” .net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/arachnids/>.
Beccaloni, Jan. Arachnids. Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO, 2009. Print.
"Camel Spiders: Behind an E-Mail Sensation From Iraq." Daily Nature and Science News and Headlines | National
Geographic News. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/
news/2004/06/0629_040629_camelspider.html>.
Camel Spider - Bite, Habitat, Behavior, Systematics and Mating. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.camelspider.org/>.
Cushing, Paula. "Camel Spiders- Importance to the Ecosystem." Personal interview. 8 Mar. 2010.
"Ecosystem - Definition from Biology-Online.org." Life Science Reference - Biology Online. Web. 09 Mar. 2010.
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Ecosystem>.
Gromov, Alexander V. Galeodes Fumigatus. Digital image. Solpugid. Web. 10 May 2010.
Homepage of The Arachnid Order Solifugae. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.solpugid.com/index.htm>.
Jordan, Bill. Who Cares for Planet Earth?: the CON in Conservation. Brighton, Portland, OR: Alpha, 2001. Print.
Krell, Frank. "Experience with Camel Spiders." Personal interview. 8 Mar. 2010.
Olympus SZX12 microscope. Digital image. Web. 9 May 2010. <http://amnl.mie.utoronto.ca/images/labpics/5.jpg>.
"Solifugae Photos ("Wind Scorpions" of "Sun Spiders")." Arachnology -- The American Arachnological Society
Homepage. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. <http://www.americanarachnology.org/gallery_solfugae.html>.
Sowell, John. Desert Ecology: an Introduction to Life in the Arid Southwest. Salt Lake City: University of Utah, 2001.
Print.
Terborgh, John. Requiem for Nature. Washington, D.C.: Island, 1999. Print.
"Wind Scorpions @." National Geographic Magazine. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/
ngm/0407/feature5/index.html>.
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