Arachnida is a class of arthropods (within the subphylum Chelicerata) that includes spiders, scorpions and the handful of remaining lesser-known orders that are unique and underappreciated.
The order Solifugae (depicted here eating a slice of pizza) is one of my personal favourite Arachnid orders. Spiders will always be my #1, but Solpugids will always hold a special place in my heart with their prickly nubs and beady little eyes.
Solpugids are also known as :
- Camel Spiders
- Wind Scorpions
- Solifuges
- Sun Spiders
- False Spiders
- Roman Spiders
- Jerrymanders
- Children of the Earth
- Eyambulohungi (the one who breaks the meeting up)
- Otjibiryanguari (moving without purpose)
- Vet vretters (fat eaters)
- Jagspinnekoppe (chasing spiders)
- Walzenspinnen (road rollers)
- Haarskeerders (hair cutters)
- “The Kalahari Ferrari”
Arachnologist Dr. Paula Cushing’s “The Truth About Camel Spiders” not only enlightened me about the many cheeky aliases of the elusive arachnids, but it proved to be a thoroughly fascinating in-depth lecture on these curious little crawlies that deserve some positive attention (for once!).