Black Phalanx. Phalanx

Phalanx is an insect belonging to the order of arachnids and inhabiting arid areas; It is precisely because of its preference for living in desert environments that it is also called the “camel spider.”

Description of the camel spider

Since such an individual is a desert inhabitant, its color is appropriate: sandy-yellow or brown-yellow.

Several tropical species are characterized by bright colors. Sopulga (as they used to call it in Russia) is a rather large individual, whose body (5-7 centimeters in length) and limbs are covered with numerous bristles and hairs, which gives such a spider a rather threatening appearance. The ocular tubercle with a pair of convex eyes located on it is clearly visible on the anterior edge of the head shield; the lateral eyes of the phalanx are not developed. Of course, among these inhabitants of the planet there are also babies that do not exceed 15 mm in size, but this does not at all change the natural predatory essence of the insect. Camel spiders thanks specific form Their bodies are distinguished by amazing maneuverability and mobility; some individuals are capable of accelerating up to 16 km/h. For such skill they are also called “wind scorpions.”

Life of spiders in nature

Almost all camel spiders are nocturnal. During the day, the phalanxes hide in various shelters: rodent burrows, under stones, and are capable of digging a lair themselves. Some individuals look for a new home each time, others may use a den long time. By the way, nocturnal spider species are attracted to various light sources. For example, in the desert they can approach the light of a fire; a massive accumulation of them is observed under lanterns, also poisonous spiders penetrate into illuminated living spaces.

If the phalanx runs into the tent, it is impossible to drive it out; unless killed or swept outside the home with a broom. In this case, be sure to wear thick gloves and trousers tucked into boots. It is worth knowing that it is also impossible to crush a phalanx on the sand. If the result is disastrous, namely a camel spider bite, the damaged area should be washed with any antiseptic (iodine, brilliant green, alcohol); If the wound festers, you should start taking antibiotics.

Spider against its victims

Being essentially predators, these large spiders, of which there are more than 1000 species in nature, are omnivorous and also carnivorous. They will dine appetizingly on their fellow spiders, woodlice, bees, termites, darkling beetles, and will not refuse larger prey, for example, lizards, baby rodents and chicks of small birds.

In fights with scorpions, the phalanx almost always emerges victorious. Grabbing prey with lightning speed, the camel spider holds it tightly, tears it, and then appetizingly kneads it with chelicerae (oral appendages), well developed and externally resembling large forceps or claws. The camel spider is aggressive and capable of fiercely defending itself with increased attention to its person. There is also hostility towards each other. Interesting feature The camel spider is used to intimidate the enemy with a loud sound when attacking. It is formed from the contact and friction of the chelicerae against each other.

Phalanx - devourer of everything that moves

Giant camel spiders are known for their voracious appetites; they are able to eat until they burst. And indeed it is. In California, some species of such spiders devastate hives and destroy entire swarms of bees. The bottom of the hive covered with dead insects and the phalanx, having eaten to their fill with a full belly against the backdrop of their victims - this is the picture of the night massacre. Moreover, the phalanx, unable to leave the hive due to gluttony, often ends up stung to death by the surviving individuals.

Clearly cases of camel spider gluttony can be observed when the latter is kept in captivity. If the phalanx is provided with an unlimited amount of food (for example, insects are presented with tweezers), then you can see that the arachnid will eat until its abdomen swells to an alarming size. There is even a threat that the spider may burst. However, this danger has no effect on appetite; the phalanx eats as long as the chelicerae are able to move.

Is the phalanx dangerous for humans?

Large spiders are capable of biting through human skin, which makes them dangerous to humans. Despite the fact that the phalanx does not have venom-producing glands and specific devices for injecting it, the bite of such a spider nevertheless poses a threat to human life.

The jaws contain the rotting remains of previous victims, often highly toxic. If released into an open wound, these decomposing enzymes can cause local inflammation and general blood poisoning. Even without such frightening consequences, a camel spider bite is painful and unpleasant.

Reproduction

Poisonous spiders reproduce in a rather specific way. The male finds the lady of his heart with the help of the olfactory organs located on the pedipalps (tentacles). The mating process occurs at night and lasts several minutes; The spider releases a sticky substance with spermatophores onto the soil surface, after which it picks it up with chelicerae and transports it into the female’s genital opening.

When mating, the male behaves reflexively; if you remove the female at this moment, the spider will not even notice it and will continue its actions, which have lost all meaning. During fertilization, the female is characterized by inert behavior; the male even has to drag her along with him. After intercourse, the lady, who was previously very passive, suddenly becomes aggressive and is even capable of eating the male, so it is better for the latter to get away as quickly as possible.

After some time, the female begins to build a burrow, into which she lays up to 200 eggs. Since the embryos begin to develop already in the female’s oviducts, after a couple of weeks small phalangeal spiders appear from the laid eggs, which until the first molt are devoid of articulation, covered with a transparent thin cuticle, and remain practically motionless. Afterwards, their newly formed integument hardens and dismembers, and hairs appear on the body. The female stays with the offspring until they become stronger. There are suggestions that she even provides them with food.

IN winter period The camel spider hibernates; some have this feature even in the summer months.

Habitat of the camel spider

Desert terrain and arid climate are the most comfortable conditions for the phalanx to live. The camel spider is most often found in the world's vast deserts. Also lives in the Lower Volga region, Kalmykia, Transcaucasia, Northern Caucasus, in Central Asia and Kazakhstan.

Spain and Greece are familiar with such an amazing arachnid. Occasionally it can be found in Crimea. The camel spider is practically never found in Australia.

The Latin name for representatives of the arachnid order “Solifugae” means “running away from the sun.” Solpuga, wind scorpion, bihorca, phalanx - different definitions of an arthropod creature that only looks like, but belongs to omnivores. This is a real predator, encounters with which can result in painful bites.

Salpuga spider

There are many fables about salpugas. In the South they are called hairdressers because they believe that the underground nests of the inhabitants are lined with the hair of people and animals, which are cut by powerful chelicerae (oral appendages).

Description and features

Central Asian predators are found approximately 5-7 cm long. Large, spindle-shaped body. On the cephalothorax, protected by a chitinous shield, there are large bulging eyes. The eyes on the sides are underdeveloped, but react to light and movement of objects.

10 limbs, body covered with hair. The anterior tentacles-pedipalps are longer than the tarsus, they are very sensitive to environment, serve as an organ of touch. reacts instantly to approach, which makes him an excellent hunter.

The hind limbs are equipped with claws and suction cups, allowing them to climb vertical surfaces. The running speed is up to 14-16 km/h, for which the spider is given the nickname of the wind.

I wonder what salpuga structure in general, it is very primitive, but the tracheal system in the body of a predator is one of the most advanced among arachnids. The body is yellow-brown, sometimes whitish, with long hair. individuals of dark color or variegated coloring are rare.

Frightening tentacles and fast movements create a frightening effect. Solpuga in the photo looks like a small shaggy monster. The hairs on the body vary. Some are soft and short, others are rough and spiky. Individual hairs can be very long.

The main weapon of the predator is large chelicerae with pincers, reminiscent of crab claws. Salpuga is distinguished from other spiders by its ability to bite through a human nail, skin, and small bones. Chelicerae are equipped with a cutting edge and teeth, the number of which differs depending on different types.

Lifestyle and habitat

Salpuga spider- a typical inhabitant of steppes, deserts of tropical and subtropical zones. Sometimes found in wooded areas. The main distribution area is South Africa, Pakistan, North Caucasus, Central Asian territories. Residents of Spain and Greece are familiar with nocturnal predators. This common species is familiar to all residents of hot places and deserts.

Most night hunters hide during the day in abandoned rodent burrows, among stones, or in their underground nests, which they dig with the help of chelicerae, throwing away the soil with their paws. They are attracted to light by a cluster of insects.

Therefore, they crawl towards the glow of the fire, the rays of a flashlight, towards the illuminated windows. There are species that are active during the day. In Spain, such sun-loving representatives were called “sun spiders.” In terrariums, salpugs love to bask under the light ultraviolet lamps.

The activity of spiders is manifested not only in fast running, but also in dexterous vertical movement, jumping over a considerable distance - up to 1-1.2 m. When meeting an enemy, salpugs raise the front part of their body, open their claws and point them towards the enemy.

Sharp and piercing sounds give the spider determination to attack and frighten the enemy. The life of predators is subject to the seasons. With the arrival of the first cold weather, they hibernate until the warm days of spring.

During the hunt, salpugs make characteristic sounds similar to grinding or a high-pitched squeak. This effect occurs due to friction of the chelicerae to intimidate the enemy.

The behavior of animals is aggressive, they are not afraid of either humans or poisonous scorpions, they are even warlike towards each other. The lightning-fast movements of hunters are dangerous for victims, but they themselves rarely become someone's prey.

Transcaspian salpuga spider

It is difficult to drive out a spider that has run into a tent; you can sweep it out with a broom or crush it on a hard surface; this is impossible to do on sand. Bites should be washed with antiseptics. Salpugs are not poisonous, but they carry infections. If the wound becomes suppurated after a spider attack, antibiotics will be required.

Kinds

The salpuga order consists of 13 families. There are 140 genera, almost 1000 species. An army of thousands of predators is distributed on many continents, except Australia and Antarctica:

• over 80 species - in America;
• about 200 species - in Africa, Eurasia;
• 40 species – in North Africa and Greece;
• 16 species - in South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam.

Common salpuga

Among the most known species:

• common salpuga(galeod). Large individuals, up to 4.5-6 cm in size, yellowish-sandy in color. The color of the backs is darker, gray-brown. The compression force of the chelicerae is such that the salpuga supports the weight of its own body. There are no poisonous glands. According to its distribution area, the common salpuga is called South Russian;
• Transcaspian salpuga. Large spiders 6-7 cm long, brownish-red color of the cephalothorax, with a striped gray abdomen. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are the main regions of habitat;
• smoky salpuga. Giant spiders, over 7 cm long. Black-brown predators are found in the sands of Turkmenistan.

Smoky salpuga

All spiders are not poisonous, however, meeting them does not promise pleasant moments even for local residents of regions where they are not rare inhabitants.

Nutrition

The gluttony of spiders is pathological. These are real predators who do not know the feeling of satiety. Large insects and small animals become food. The diet includes woodlice, millipedes, termites, beetles,...

Salpuga phalanx attacks all living things that move and correspond to its size until it collapses from overeating. In California, spiders destroy bee hives, cope with lizards, small birds and small rodents. The victims include dangerous scorpions and the salpugs themselves, who are capable of devouring their mate after intercourse.

Salpuga eats a lizard

The spider grabs its prey with lightning speed. To be devoured, the carcass is torn into pieces, and the chelicerae knead it. Then the food is moistened with digestive juice and absorbed by the salpuga.

After a meal, the abdomen grows significantly in size, and the excitement of the hunt subsides for a short time. Those who like to keep spiders in terrariums should monitor the amount of food, since the phalanges can die from gluttony.

Reproduction and lifespan

With the onset of the mating season, the pairs come together based on the alluring scent of the female. But soon the salpuga, carrying offspring in the oviducts, becomes so aggressive that it can eat its partner. Increased nutrition promotes the development of babies in the womb.

In a hidden burrow, following embryonic development, the first is the deposition of cuticles - eggs in which the babies have matured. The offspring are numerous: from 50 to 200 heirs.

Salpuga eggs

In the cuticles, the young are motionless, without hairs and signs of articulation. After 2-3 weeks, the babies become like their parents after the first molt, gain hair and straighten all their limbs.

The ability to move independently gradually develops into motor activity. Salpuga phalanx protects the young, delivers food until the offspring gets stronger.

There is no information on the life expectancy of representatives of arthropods. The fashion for keeping predators in terrariums has appeared recently. Perhaps close observation of the habitat of the phalanx will open new pages in the description of this sandy inhabitant of the tropics.

Interest in an unusual animal is manifested in the appearance of heroes computer games, frightening and alluring images. Versus solpuga lives on the Internet. But a real predatory spider can only be found in wildlife.

The order of arachnids has about 1 thousand species of various phalanges. Most people use the name “phalanx,” although it would be more correct to call this common order of arachnids “salpuga.”

The exact translation of the name “solpuga” means “running away from the sun.”

In different arid regions where salpugs, or, more commonly, phalanges, live, they are called differently. IN South Africa For example, they are called “barbers” because, according to local residents, the phalanxes are able to cut human hair and animal fur to make a soft nest underground.

Description and characteristics

If we describe the phalanx in more detail, then we can say about it that these are large arthropod arachnids. Salpuga, living in Central Asia reaches a length of up to 7 centimeters. The entire body and limbs are covered with long hair. The front “tentacles”, called pedipalps, are also similar to paws, and when moving they perform their functions, only they are longer than the “walking” limbs. The phalanx has 10 legs in total.

Two pedipalps perform a tactile function, but the hind limbs of the phalanx have tenacious claws. Between them there are suction cup-like villi, thanks to which spiders can easily climb vertical surfaces.

Salpugs are very fast and are nocturnal predators. All phalanges are carnivorous, or rather, omnivorous, so their diet is termites, various beetles and even small arthropods. But sometimes they also hunt lizards.

The eyes of the phalanx spider are arranged like those of all arthropod spiders: in front there are two round, complexly arranged eyes, and on the sides of the cephalothorax there is one more eye. The salpug simply does not have “forward-looking” eyes. Why do spiders need compound eyes? They react to light and to the movement of various objects. Therefore, it only takes a split second for the salpuga to react to its approach. This makes her a great hunter and rarely when prey.

Chelicerae

The most noticeable features of the phalanx are powerful chelicerae. These are such oral appendages. Of all the spiders, it is the salpugs that are endowed with two strong chelicerae, capable of biting through a human nail, which resemble crab claws. The chelicerae have teeth, the number of which is determined by the type of spider. The power of the chelicerae is so great that it becomes clear why Africans are so afraid of them. They are capable of not only cutting hair and hair, but cut through skin and even bird bones.

When the phalanx attacks, it emits a characteristic squeak, similar to a piercing chirping. This effect is achieved by rubbing the chelicerae against each other.

Distribution of the species

Residents of hot regions and deserts know firsthand what a phalanx is. Their habitat is very wide. In Russia they are widespread throughout the Crimean Peninsula and the Caucasus. Many species of salpugs live in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and other regions of Central Asia. This type of spider, the salpuga, is also known in Europe, especially in Greece and Spain.

A small insect cannot bite through human skin, but a large phalanx is capable of this, and the sensation is very painful. In most cases, salpug bites pass without any consequences. But there are cases when inflammations form, which are quite difficult for those who are bitten. The phalanx does not have poisonous glands, but rotting food debris accumulates in the chelicerae, which get into the wound when bitten and cause infection.

Salpugs are spiders, a very common species. and that is why they have many scientific names. People, observing the life of spiders and their habits, gave them common names. Among them:

1. Solfugi.
2. Phalanxes.
3. Bihors.
4. Camel spider.

“Wind Scorpion” and many other “names” are directly related to the life of these insects. Solpuga runs very fast. The shape of their body allows them to reach speeds of up to 16 kilometers per hour and also jump up to 1 meter in height. Because of its speed, the spider was called the “scorpion of the wind.”

Phalanx squad is a large army of spiders, which consists of 13 families. It has 140 genera and a thousand species.

Due to its rather large body size, covered with bristles and “hairs” and lightning-fast movements, the phalanx looks very intimidating to its opponent. And combined with the sound it makes, the sight can scare anyone.

The color of the phalanx depends on the habitat. And since salpugs are inhabitants of desert and arid regions, most of them have a color ranging from whitish to brown. More often these are yellowish tones. The exception is individuals having a variegated color.

The most common types of phalanges

Reproduction

When does it start mating season, the male phalanx finds his chosen one by smell. After mating, the “adorator” has to quickly “run away”, since his partner begins to have an attack of aggression, and she may well eat her boyfriend. Feeding heavily all the time while small phalanges are developing in the womb, the female finds a place, digs a hole and then lays up to 200 cuticles . Cuticles are eggs, in which her babies are located. The mother stays with them until they begin to move independently. And this happens two weeks after their appearance. All this time the mother brings them food.

Phalanges are strictly subject to natural seasons. In winter, they hibernate, thus surviving the cold. With the onset of warmth, life resumes.

Finally

Recently, it has become a fashionable activity to keep terrariums with exotic animals at home. Phalanx spiders are in high demand. To keep them, you need a spacious terrarium with a heat source. The bottom should be lined with pebbles and sand. It is necessary to put leaves and twigs there so that spiders can hide. A drinking bowl is definitely needed.

It is important to remember that although spiders are not poisonous, but they can bite painfully when cleaning the terrarium. Therefore, lovers of exotic animals should be very careful in caring for and maintaining the salpuga.

They need to be fed in moderation. Phalanges living in captivity can eat constantly, and there have been cases of their death from overeating. Therefore, you need to know the rules on how to properly keep these magnificent arachnids at home.

Phalanges have several scientific names (Solifugae Sundevall, 1833, Solpugida, Solpugides, Solpugae, Galeodea, Mycetophorae) and several common names (Russian - solpugi, bihorki; English - camel spider, wind scorpion, sun scorpion, sun spider; African - red romans, haarskeerders, baarskeerders). The name “wind scorpion” is associated with the fast running of some representatives - up to 53 cm/s (1.9 km/h).

The order Phalanx contains 13 families, about 1,000 species and 140 genera. They are found in most desert regions of the Earth, except Australia.
Salpugs are a very peculiar order. In the structure and lifestyle of salpugs, primitive features are combined with signs high development. Along with the primitive type of body division and limb structure, they have the most developed tracheal system among arachnids. Being mostly nocturnal predators, salpugs are common in dry and hot countries, are very mobile, and there are species that are active during the daytime.

The name “phalanx” is inconvenient because it sounds the same. as one of the Latin names of the order of harvesters - phalangids (Phalangida). The name “solpugs” is the most commonly used, but in the accepted Latin transcription (Solifugae) it means “running away from the sun,” which is not entirely accurate, since among the salpugs there are also sun-loving species. There is also a third name for this order - “bihorki”, but it is rarely used.

Structure
Salpugs are large forms, 50-70 mm long, only a few species do not exceed 10-15 mm. The color is brown-yellow, sandy-yellow, whitish, less often variegated or dark. The cephalothorax is dissected, its anterior section, bearing chelicerae, pedipalps and fore legs, is covered with a large head shield, and the segments of the second to fourth pairs of legs are dissected and have their own tergites. At the anterior edge of the head shield, an eye tubercle with a pair of convex eyes is clearly visible; the lateral eyes are underdeveloped. The lower surface of the cephalothorax is occupied by the triangular coxae of the pedipalps and walking legs. The chelicerae are very large with swollen main segments and powerful claws directed forward.

The claws open in a vertical plane, their fingers along the inner edges are armed with strong teeth. The pedipalps are large, similar in structure to legs, but lack claws and have a special soft tactile appendage at the end. The functions of the pedipalps are varied, they participate in locomotion, serve as tactile organs, and are used in grasping and holding prey, which is facilitated by strong bristles on their segments; The male uses his pedipalps to hold the female during copulation. The legs are somewhat different in structure. The front ones are thinner and shorter than the others and perform mainly a tactile function. The rest are used for movement, their legs are segmented, equipped with claws, sometimes with a small suction cup between them. The hind legs are longer than the others; on their coxae and dissected trochanters, 2-5 pairs of peculiar organs are attached below, the so-called appendages (maleoli), shaped like triangular plates suspended on stalks. The purpose of these formations is unknown; apparently, these are some kind of sensory organs. Their edges are equipped with numerous sensilla with sensitive cells, the processes of which are united into a nerve passing through the stalk of each plate. Experiments on removing appendages did not lead to changes in the behavior of salpugs, including the manifestation of sexual instincts.

The abdomen is large, fusiform, consists of 10 dissected segments with a tergite and a sternite on each. It articulates with the cephalothorax by a narrowed pregenital segment. The genital opening has the form of a longitudinal slit on the first abdominal segment, covered by lateral valves. Feature salpug - a powerfully developed tracheal system.

The main tracheal trunks open with paired spiracles on the abdomen at the posterior edges of the second and third segments, closer to the midline. The spiracles are covered with hairs. In addition, there is an unpaired spiracle on the fourth abdominal segment and a pair of additional spiracles on the sides of the cephalothorax. The tracheae extending from the spiracles are connected into powerful longitudinal trunks, which are connected by jumpers and send numerous highly branching tracheae to all organs and tissues. Spiral thickenings of the tracheal walls are well defined.

The body and appendages of salpugs are covered with numerous hairs and bristles, some soft, some thickened, spiny, some very long, sticking out individually. The shaggy, bristly cover of salpugs, combined with their large size and lightning-fast movements, gives them a terrifying appearance.

Behavior
Salpugs run at great speed, easily climb vertical surfaces, and can jump a considerable distance (large species are more than a meter). When meeting an enemy, the salpuga takes a threatening pose: the anterior part of the body is raised, the chelicerae with open claws are directed forward, the pedipalps and front legs are raised and directed towards the enemy. At the same time, some species make piercing sounds, squeaking or chirping by rubbing the chelicerae against each other.

Salpugs are mostly active at night.

During the day, they hide in various shelters, under stones, in burrows of rodents and other animals, or they themselves dig holes with the help of chelicerae, kicking away the soil with their feet. Some use the same hole for a long time, others make a new den every night. Nocturnal species are attracted to a variety of light sources. In hot desert areas, salpugs often come to the light of a fire, accumulate under lanterns, and penetrate into illuminated living quarters. Salpugs, like many nocturnal insects, are especially attracted to the ultraviolet radiation of a mercury lamp.

In the literature you can find the opinion that salpugs are attracted by insects that accumulate near a light source. Although the salbug, having come running to the light, indeed immediately begins to grab the insects that turn up, it is probably attracted by the light source itself, for the same reasons, not entirely clear to us, that irresistibly attract night insects to the light. The attitude of nocturnal species of salpugs to daylight, on the contrary, is sharply negative. But among the salpugs there are also diurnal, clearly sun-loving forms. In Spain, salpugs even received the local name “sun spiders.” Our diurnal species includes the Central Asian sun-loving salbuga (Paragaleodes heliophilus). This small whitish-golden salbug runs across the steppe during the day.

Salpugs are extremely voracious and eat a wide variety of animals that they can handle, mainly insects, as well as centipedes, spiders, woodlice, etc. They catch termites by gnawing the walls of their buildings; some species are known in California as hive ravagers. Large salpugs attack small lizards, chicks of small birds, and young rodents. In fights with scorpions, when the opponents are of equal size, the salpuga usually wins. The prey is grabbed with lightning speed, held tightly, torn and crushed by the chelicerae. The contents of the prey, abundantly moistened with digestive juice, are absorbed. The repulsive picture of gluttony in salpugs can be reproduced by keeping them in captivity. If a salpuga is given an unlimited amount of food, for example, insects are brought to it with tweezers, then it will eat so much that its abdomen swells and may even burst. Such a salpuga, doomed to death, nevertheless continues to grab and eat the food brought to it until the chelicerae stop moving. In nature, such cases are apparently excluded: an overfed salpupa with an enlarged abdomen loses the ability to chase prey before it becomes overly full.

Salpugs do not have poisonous glands. Special experiments have shown that the digestive juice released during feeding is not poisonous. However, the unfounded opinion that salpugs are poisonous and very dangerous to humans is quite common among non-specialists. True, some large salpugs with powerful chelicerae can injure human skin to the point of bleeding. Food particles remaining on the chelicerae and putrefactive microorganisms developing on them can enter the wound and cause inflammation. But most species of salpugs are apparently unable to bite through human skin at all.
Mating usually occurs at night. The male finds the female by smell. When the pedipalps, which contain olfactory organs, are removed, the male is no longer attracted to the female. During mating, the male is very active, the female, on the contrary, falls into a motionless state, and the male sometimes drags her from place to place. Fertilization is spermatophore. The male releases a sticky spermatophore containing sperm onto the soil surface, picks it up with chelicerae and transfers it to the female’s genital opening. In this case, special copulatory appendages (so-called flags) located on the male’s chelicerae play a certain role. The whole process usually lasts only a few minutes. The fertilized female soon becomes mobile and very aggressive towards the male, who hastily runs away, otherwise risking being immediately eaten. The behavior of a male during mating represents a chain of reflex acts, which, once begun, continues even if the female or spermatophore is removed.

The fertilized female is especially voracious. After a period of feeding, she digs a hole with a slight expansion at the bottom, where she lays eggs (from 30 to 200 in different species). Embryonic development occurs in the female’s oviducts, so that small salpugs soon hatch from the laid eggs. They are motionless, covered with a thin transparent cuticle, devoid of segments and hairs. After 2-3 weeks, molting occurs, the new integument becomes dismembered and hardens, hairs appear on the body, and the salpuga begins to move. The female remains with the young until they become stronger; There is evidence that the mother delivers food to the cubs. The total number of molts and life expectancy of salpugs are not known exactly. Seasonal phenomena are expressed in the life of salpugs. They hibernate in winter, and some species disappear during the driest summer months.

Salpugs are inhabitants of steppe and desert countries of the tropical, subtropical and partly temperate zones. Only a few species are found in wetter wooded areas. In total, up to 600 species are known, distributed into approximately 30 genera and 10 families (the number of genera varies greatly among different authors). They predominate in the Old World, where there are 8 families and about 500 species. In South and North America There are representatives of two families - Eremobatidae and Ammotrechidae, characteristic only of the New World. In the Old World, salpugs are distributed throughout almost all of Africa (excluding Madagascar, where they are not found), in the countries of Western, Central and South Asia, but in the southeastern part of Asia they are almost absent. There are none in Australia and the islands Pacific Ocean. In the Palaearctic, the families Galeodidae, Rhagodidae, Karschiidae and Daesidae predominate in the number of species. In South Africa, along with others, there are two endemic families, characteristic only of this part of the continent. One of them, the family Hexisopodidae, is represented by peculiar burrowing soil forms with a compact body, very powerful chelicerae and flattened legs. IN Western Europe Salpugs are found on the Balkan and Iberian Peninsulas.

Data on salpugs of the USSR are summarized in the monograph by A. A. Byalynitsky-Biruli (“Fauna of the USSR”, 1938). In our fauna, up to 50 species of 10 genera of the four Palaearctic families mentioned above are noted. Salpugs are very common in Central Asia, they are also found in the Caucasus, Transcaucasia (with the exception of the mountains of the Main Range and Black Sea coast), in Crimea, in the south of the steppe strip from the lower reaches of the Don to the Ural River. The northern border of their distribution runs from 47° N. w. in the west to 52° N. w. on the Ural River and further along the parallel to the borders of Mongolia

The genus Galeodes includes the largest, long-legged, fast-running forms. In the European part of the USSR (in the Crimea, the Caucasus, in the steppes of the southeast), the common salpuga (G. araneoides), pale yellow, up to 5 cm long, is widespread. In Central Asia, the most common species is the Trans-Caspian salpuga (G. caspius), brownish-red with a grayish belly bearing dark stripes. It can be up to 6.5 cm in length and is second in size only to the black-brown smoky salpus (G. fumigatus), reaching 7 cm and common in the sands of Turkmenistan. The Transcaspian salpuga is very common in places. She often runs into houses in the light of a lamp and terrifies the residents. Like all nocturnal salpugs, by morning it climbs into some kind of shelter and may unexpectedly find itself in removed shoes, folds of hanging clothes, etc.

Representatives of the Rhagodes genus are found in Transcaucasia and Turkmenistan. These are forms with short legs, variegated or dark. They usually live in clayey and wormwood deserts and rarely enter populated areas. Species of the genus Karschia - small yellow salpugs - live in the mountainous areas of Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Some of them were found at altitudes of up to 3000 m above sea level.

Interesting:

• If salpugs are given excessive access to food that they don't have to hunt for, they will eat until their belly bursts. And even after this, the phalanx will continue to eat until it finally dies.
• In 1992, the salpuga was listed in the Red Book of Ukraine as an endangered species.
• Solpuga runs very fast and jumps high. She is capable of reaching speeds of up to 1.9 km per hour and jumping up to two meters in height.
• The salpuga attacks animals that are 3-4 times its size.

The camel spider has several names - bihorca, phalanx, salpuga, wind scorpion, sun spider. In South Africa they are called barbers. Solifugae literally translates as “running away from the sun.” The phalanx spider is different from. Arthropods were classified in this class due to the presence of chelicerae and long limbs. There are more than 1 thousand species of phalanges around the world. They live in deserts, steppe, arid zones with high temperatures.

Photo and description of the phalanx spider

Outwardly it resembles a scorpion, spider, insect. This unique creature looks terrifying, behaves aggressively, runs fast, jumps, and has a dense shell. Such features make him practically invulnerable.

The camel spider is a peculiar creature with a combination of primitive features and signs of high development. The body consists of the abdomen, chest, and head. Covered with a durable shell and long hairs. The abdomen is elongated, divided into several segments. The size of the bihor is no more than 7 cm.

Long powerful limbs are attached to the chest and head. There are 8 legs in total, but the long tentacles are very similar to another pair of legs and perform similar functions. The tentacles and powerful jaws on the head are directed forward, shaped like claws. Used for grinding solid food. The hind legs are somewhat longer. With their help, the salpuga spider develops great speed and also jumps at a distance of up to 1 m.

The coloring of a bihork resembles a scorpion. The abdomen is dark brown, closer to black. Head, claws orange, red. The chest and limbs are red or light brown. The hairs all over the body are light. A photo of a camel spider is presented below. The color scheme differs depending on the type.

Interesting!

The structure of the eyes is different from that - there are no simple ocelli. Compound eyes are located in front, on the sides of the cephalothorax, and instantly respond to light and movement. This feature makes the salpuga an excellent hunter and invulnerable prey.

Habitats

The camel spider lives in desert, semi-desert regions, and steppes. Prefers dry areas high temperature. Many species live in the Gobi Desert, the North Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Astrakhan, Transcaucasia, the Lower Volga region, and Volgograd. In Europe they are found in Greece and Spain.

The camel spider digs holes in the soil, hiding under stones and snags.

On a note!

Salpuga is predominantly nocturnal, but some species are active during the day and are not afraid of sunlight. Phalanxes are afraid of people, try to quickly hide, but due to their carelessness they often penetrate into living quarters.

Features of behavior

Salpugs are aggressive creatures. They attack absolutely everyone they can handle. Their victims often include insects, spiders, caterpillars, as well as rodents, birds, lizards, and snakes. The phalanxes fearlessly rush into battle with the scorpion and often win.

Salpugs wait for the victim in a secluded place, and when they see it, they take a frightening position - they raise their chests and extend their tentacles forward.

Interesting!

Phalanxes run at a speed of 16 km per hour, so it is very difficult to escape from such a predator. If necessary, the salpuga long jumps at a distance of up to 1 m.

Nutrition

Extremely voracious fertilized females. If he manages to defeat the rodent, he eats everything in one go. With its powerful jaws it tears apart the shell and gnaws out the insides. The murder weapon is claws, tentacles, and powerful jaws. The spider does not inject venom and does not paralyze the victim.

The main diet is insects, beetles, spiders. Larger species attack chicks, rodents, lizards, frogs, toads, and scorpions. Natural enemies salpugs have practically none. The power of the chelicerae allows you to easily cut off feathers, coat, cut through the skin, shell, crush thin bones.

On a note!

When attacked, the phalanx emit an unpleasant piercing squeak and chirping sound.

Pairing

Mating games take place at night. The female attracts males by smell. Fertilization is sperm. Before mating, the young female is so inert that the “suitor” has to drag her along with him. After fertilization, the phalanx becomes nimble. If the male does not have time to escape from her, he risks becoming a victim.

Embryo development begins inside the salpug. After some time, the female lays eggs in a previously prepared hole. The cubs are born with a thin chitinous covering, extremely vulnerable, motionless. The mother protects them until the first moult and brings them food. After 2 weeks, the cubs molt, increase in size, acquire a characteristic color, and the shell hardens.

How long young phalanges molt before they grow up, and how long they live afterwards, is not known for certain. An adult lives approximately 1 year.

Is the camel spider poisonous or not?

Salpugs do not have glands that produce toxic substances. The phalanges are not poisonous, but they bite very painfully. People are only attacked if there is a threat to them. own life. They gnaw through the skin with powerful jaws, leaving deep wounds. Bruises, hematomas, swelling, and redness remain at the site of the bite. However, only large individuals are capable of such a “feat”; young salpugs leave nothing on their body.

On a note!

Since the claws often contain remains of rotting food, the infection gets into the wound. After a few days, itching, suppuration, and blisters appear. To avoid unpleasant consequences, the bite site must be disinfected immediately. If a secondary infection is present, symptoms are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Salpuga is attracted to the ultraviolet light of a lamp, so it often sneaks into a house, tent, or outbuildings. It is almost impossible to kill her. The predator runs fast, jumps well, and has a strong shell. The only way out is to kick him out. But first you should tuck your pants into your socks, put on gloves, and take a broom or stick.

Phalanx spiders are among the most unique animals on the planet. The order includes 13 families, 1 thousand species, 140 genera. For unknown reasons, they are not found in the arid regions of Australia.