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Tailless Whip Scorpion

Amblypygi Genus sp.

Photo by Tukup
Published on Project Noah
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-2.15, -77.69

Field Notes

Description:

An example of the Tailless Whip Scorpions found in abundance here. They are light to dark brown, have a short abdomen, a hard carapace and very long legs. The first pair of legs are sensory legs not used for walking and are ridiculously long like whips, from whence comes their name. They can easily reach out to 10-15 cm on each side. The grasping pedipalps are quite long with several sharp spines they use with which to hold their prey.

Habitat:

Found along our house at night in SE Ecuador (700 masl).

Notes:

Interesting little creatures that can move forward, backward or sideways when disturbed. They are quick moving and "scary-looking" but being non-venomous, not dangerous at all. Other than both being arachnids, they have nothing in common with true scorpions. The last picture is not for the squeamish 😊

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (15)

I don't know about "adorable" but definitely unique and cool. Glad you like it. Thanks Isaac.
Thanks Dawn. Not sure if that student needs commending or counseling 😊 I'll go with commending. Tell them thanks. I think they're pretty cool too.
Thanks James. They are definitely unique.
Thanks Dawn. Not many think arachnids look cool. Glad you approve 😊
Thanks Ingrid. You have to kind of sneak up on them or they scurry out of the way pretty fast. Most times you just see a "shadow" flitting away in the corner of your eye. But if you can get close without scaring them, they are fascinating to watch. But, yes, you are right. Surprises are different.
COOL! i am just thinking how i would feel walking into this AMAZING creature in the middle of the night!
Thanks Jae. Fascinating arachnids.
Wow awesome! Great photos, Tukup.
Yes, they are common in the Amazon forest, which is quite far from where I live. My area is the Atlantic Forest, down south Brazil. But we DO have some interesting critters here...:-)
They really are and fortunately we have them in abundance. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to narrow the ID down past Order. Hope you see one soon. I assume you have them there.
That is one that I still need to see "in person". They must be awesome.

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