# Camel Spiders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 13, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813 "2004-04-13T16:56:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Candy\_Lover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Candy\_Lover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candy_Lover)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813/41 "2004-10-03T00:00:53Z")
Try [here](http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/~pjbryant/biodiv/spiders/Mastigoproctus.htm). These are true “vinegaroons.” Whip scorpions are different critters. [here](http://www.ultimatepethabitat.net/solifugid.htm) are some examples. Some people appear to confuse the two in nomenclature. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813/42 "2004-10-03T05:28:57Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > \*\*fnordle \*\* (no idea why I like that name 😃 ) What’s so good about a name like **le**? If nothing else, being two letters will make searches for **le** ’s posts impossible. I do find something discomfitting about it, though. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813/43 "2004-10-03T05:35:27Z")
> [@jlsheets](#): > > airforcewife… (etc) > > …sooner or later stubburn heads … (etc) (gentle chiding) Now, now, now, let’s play nice! You’re both new here and we want to keep you both without anybody scaring off anybody else so let’s just hold hands and sing “Kumbaya.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813/44 "2004-10-03T16:51:18Z")
> [@](#): > > …so let’s just hold hands and sing “Kumbaya.” 😃 Don’t forget to link to [Cecil’s column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980911a.html)! And **Johnny L.A.** , I think that that’s what **jlsheets** was trying to say. Maybe it’s before coffee for both of you? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813/45 "2004-10-04T17:55:43Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > What’s so good about a name like **le**? If nothing else, being two letters will make searches for **le** ’s posts impossible. I do find something discomfitting about it, though. :eek: It’s all in your imagination, dropzone. … Fnord. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![guidonthief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f8ce5/32.png) [@guidonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guidonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813/46 "2004-10-26T23:26:56Z")
OK, I’ve been seeing that picture all over the place and I want to clarify. This not a FOAF. I was THERE when the picture was taken. It is, indeed, a distortion of perspective. The animals in question had a resting leg span of about 4 inches, spread to about 6 when held up. The First Sergeant held one with pliers and held it in a jar containing the other and they locked on to eachother, then he pulled them out. The location was FOB Rough Rider, near Mandali. If I recal, it was around mid-May, maybe a little earlier. I have not seen a lot of camel spiders over here, maybe 5 or 6. They are very reclusive and run away from even the slightest disturbance. I have never heard them make any sound or known anyone who was bitten by one. They are fairly fast, but I’d say no more than 10mph, slow enough that you can catch them if you’re quick. The Iraqis are very casual about them, picking them up bare-handed and playing (toying, actually) with them. I’ll tell you this, though: they are CREEPY. I am not normally repulsed by critters, but there is something really weird about the way their legs move. It’s hard to explain, but the legs seem to twist more like tetntacles than jointed limbs. Every time I’ve seen one run, I just had to turn my head away. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813/47 "2004-10-27T02:45:41Z")
Very cool, **guidonthief**! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813/48 "2004-10-27T16:58:22Z")
> [@guidonthief](#): > > I’ll tell you this, though: they are CREEPY. I am not normally repulsed by critters, but there is something really weird about the way their legs move. It’s hard to explain, but the legs seem to twist more like tetntacles than jointed limbs. Every time I’ve seen one run, I just had to turn my head away. That sounds fascinating, **guidonthief** – now I really want to see one. 😉 Thanks for posting all the information about that photo. Now we know the truth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813.md?page=2)