Whoa...it's creepy, it's crawly, it looks like a very large, squashed scorpion with some daddy-long-legs glued onto it! It's actually an African Cave Spider, officially called a tailless whip scorpion (Damon variegatus), and it's perfectly harmless. How novel...
Damon variegatus
What are Amblypygids?
Amblypygi is an order of arachnids also known as whip-spiders or tailless whip-scorpions, not to be confused with whip-scorpions or vinegaroons that belong to the related order Thelyphonida. The name "amblypygid" means "blunt tail", a reference to a lack of the flagellum that is otherwise seen in whip-scorpions. Amblypygids possess no silk glands or venom.
As of 2023, five families, 17 genera, and around 260 species had been discovered and described. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, mainly in warm and humid environments. They like to stay protected and hidden within leaf litter, caves, or underneath bark. Some species are subterranean; all are nocturnal.
Physical Characteristics
Being arachnids, Amblypygi possess two body-segments; the prosoma and the opisthosoma (often referred to as the cephalothorax and abdomen), four pairs of legs, pedipalps, and chelicerae. Unlike other arachnids, such as true spiders and scorpions, these guys have only six legs. The first pair of legs act as sensory organs and are not used for walking. Their other two legs have been modified into very long feelers - to help them feel their way around tree bark, under logs, and in the dark caves of Eastern Africa.
Read also: African Cave Dwellers
Amblypygi Anatomy
Amblypygids have raptorial pedipalps modified for grabbing and retaining prey, much like the forelegs of mantisses. The pedipalps are generally covered in spines, used for impaling and capturing prey. Pedipalp anatomy varies strongly with species, with configurations often conforming to a particular style of prey capture.
Whip-spiders are covered with a layer of a solidified secretion that forms a super-hydrophobic coating. Studies on the spotted tailless whip-scorpion also show their exoskeleton is enriched with several trace-elements, including calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and zinc, which tends to accumulate as the individual gets older.
Locomotion and Hunting
Amblypygids have eight legs, but use only six for walking, often in a crab-like, sideways fashion. The front pair of legs are modified for use as antennae-like feelers, with many fine segments giving the appearance of a "whip". When a suitable prey is located with the antenniform legs, the amblypygid seizes its victim with large spines on the grasping pedipalps, impaling and immobilizing the prey.
Pincer-like chelicerae then work to grind and chew the prey prior to ingestion. The tailless whip scorpion may go for over a month in which no food is eaten. Often this is due to pre-molt.
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Reproduction and Social Behavior
Courtship involves the male depositing stalked spermatophores, which have one or more sperm masses at the tip, onto the ground, and using his pedipalps to guide the female over them. She gathers the sperm and lays fertilized eggs into a sac carried under the abdomen, or opisthosoma.
Some species of amblypygids, particularly Phrynus marginemaculatus and Damon diadema, may be among the few examples of arachnids that exhibit social behavior. Research conducted at Cornell University suggests that mother amblypygids communicate with their young with her antenniform front-legs, and the offspring reciprocate both with their mother and siblings.
Diet
The amblypygid diet mostly consists of arthropod prey, but these opportunistic predators have also been observed feeding on vertebrates. Amblypygids generally do not feed for a period of time before, during, and after molting.
Keeping Tailless Whip-Scorpions as Pets
Several genera of Amblypygi are sold and kept as pets, including Acanthophrynus, Charinus, Charon, Damon, Euphrynichus, Heterophrynus, Phrynus, Paraphrynus, and Phrynichus. Tailless whip-scorpions are kept in tall enclosures with arboreal climbing surfaces to allow for two things: Enough vertical space for climbing and molting, and enough space for heat to dissipate in order to keep the enclosure between 70 °F (21 °C) and 75 °F (24 °C).
5 centimeters (2.0 in) of substrate at the bottom of the enclosure is generally sufficient to allow for burrowing and also serves as a method to retain water in order to keep the humidity above 75%. Tailless whip-scorpions live anywhere between 5 and 10 years.
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
Tailless Whip Scorpion Terrarium Setup
Even though they are harmless to humans, these creatures have been much maligned in modern media. For instance, in the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, they are described as "lethal" by Mad-eye Moody, who tortures the animal with a curse until Hermione begs him to stop.
A fellow wildlife educator was kind enough to share a surplus bunch of these big ol' guys with us, so be sure to invite one of these stunning fellows to your next event. Let's see if fear is a factor for you!
Note: These "Cave spiders" are amazing creatures, have been wanting a few for my collection for a very long time!
