Camel Spiders: The Fast and Deadly Desert Predators

Some creatures are infamous for their reputation, and the camel spider is one of them. Many people recognize them from photos that emerged during the Iraq War in the early 2000s: a gigantic desert 'spider' with legs ranging between the size of a cigarette pack and a full-grown man’s calf (which was later revealed to be a result of forced perspective).

There have been wild rumors that camel spiders charge through the desert, screaming and jumping onto camels, or that they wait in ambush inside sleeping bags, ready to inject venom. But U.S. military personnel weren't the first to spin tall tales about camel spiders (also known as sun spiders).

In South Africa, camel spiders are known as 'haarskeerders' or 'beard trimmers,' due to the myth that they sneak up on sleepers to trim their hair and use it to build their nests. In North Africa and the Middle East, legends tell of these predators nibbling at camels' bellies until their intestines fall out, which they devour, or laying eggs in the camels' stomachs.

Solifuges, Not Actual Spiders

All the myths about camel spiders are false. First off, camel spiders aren’t true spiders—they are solifuges. These creatures are also known as sun spiders, wind spiders, or even wind scorpions (Yes, that’s a real creature!).

These arachnids can be found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. In the U.S., they’re common in the Southwest. With 1,150 species, they share eight legs and two body sections with spiders, scorpions, pseudoscorpions, ticks, and mites, but are different enough to be classified in their own order.

Camel Spiders: Fierce but Harmless

Camel spiders are indeed aggressive, but they aren’t venomous, lacking venom glands altogether. The large jaws of most species are not strong enough to penetrate human skin, let alone a camel’s belly—so while a camel spider bite may be annoying, it’s certainly not life-threatening.

The largest camel spiders can have a leg span of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters), which is certainly large for a spider but not as dramatic as what you might see in horror films. Interestingly, they don’t seem particularly interested in human hair. According to Britannica, the body length of a camel spider ranges from 0.4 to 2 inches (1 to 5 centimeters).

A Personal Encounter

"The thing about solifuges is you don't need to exaggerate to make them interesting," says Kristie Reddick, founder of The Bug Chicks, an educational organization that uses arthropods to teach young people about social issues such as prejudice, racism, educational opportunities, and personal growth.

"I first encountered one in Kenya," says Reddick. "When I tried to catch it, it scurried up the side of the wall—right to my eye level. It reared back and rubbed its jaws together to stridulate — some say they scream, but it's more of a hissing, rasping sound. It had so much attitude—I instantly fell for it."

It may seem unlikely to develop a fondness for an arachnid with the dramatic flair of a pro wrestler and the appearance of a creature cobbled together from the parts of various invertebrates, but that's the undeniable charm of the camel spider.

"When you quickly count what seem to be legs, they appear to have 10, but the first pair are actually pedipalps, which are mouthparts," explains Reddick. "I like to think of them as mouth-hands. They help bring prey into their large jaws. When they run, they use them almost like antennae or as long front legs."

Camel Spiders: Fearsome Predators

Most solifuges are nocturnal, fiercely territorial, and top predators in dry ecosystems. They prey on other animals of similar or slightly larger size, even small birds. Camel spiders are also known to eat each other.

Unlike spiders, camel spiders don't rely on venom. Their formidable jaws are enough to subdue prey. Additionally, they use digestive fluid secretions to soften the flesh, making it easier to consume.

Camel Spiders: Swift and Merciless

Solifugids are incredibly fast. The camel spider can reach speeds of up to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h), and it seems they can maintain that pace for as long as they are pursued.

However, with their relentless energy comes the need for constant refueling. Camel spiders eat a lot, but this doesn't fully explain one of their strange behaviors: large-scale ant massacres, such as the one seen in this video.

The Mystery Behind Camel Spider Ant Attacks

For some unknown reason, camel spiders sometimes target ant colonies, ripping through the ants mercilessly until they're surrounded by a massive pile of severed ant bodies.

Some researchers speculate that camel spiders might be attacking ants in order to store them for a later meal. However, Reddick's 2014 paper on solifugid diets, which she coauthored, showed that they don't have much interest in consuming ants.

Another theory is that camel spiders might be clearing out ant nests to find a cool refuge from the desert heat, but the true reason behind this bizarre behavior remains a mystery.

"The camel spider in this clip could be eliminating soldier ants to get to the larvae and pupae they were protecting — these soft, squishy little protein and fat sources don't bite," explains Reddick. "By the end of the video, you can see that she's eating, as her abdomen swells and she exhibits swallowing movements, so this could be one plausible explanation."

Just add mass ant exterminations to the growing list of behaviors scientists can't quite explain about camel spiders. But rest assured — despite their unsettling actions, they pose no threat to humans.

"Being a predator, or even defensive or aggressive, doesn't automatically make an animal bad or mean," explains Reddick. "Solifuges have such personality, and they are soft and fuzzy — petting one is like stroking a little mouse. A tiny demon mouse, that is."