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I Knew the Name "Camel Spider" Was a Bad Sign
Proof positive Arabs aren't the only nasty things in the desert, we have these camel spiders for your enjoyment. Kris should know better, but probably won't be able to help herself. The rest of you, repeat after me... ewwwwww!
In a word: Snopes
http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/camelspider.asp
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Posted by: Jon on April 19, 2004 12:05 PMDoh! Busted! "Too weird to be true."
Posted by: scott on April 19, 2004 12:45 PMBut you know, as I look at it, it still seems quite possible the picture is legit. There are two of those critters, one attached to the other, in the pic. Just one of them looks to be about five inches across. The heads are very, very similar to the thing in the snopes picture.
Posted by: Scott on April 19, 2004 01:21 PMExcellent post Jon. You beat me to it.
I think they only get as big as about 6", but still scary looking.
I have photos of one I caught at our camp in Kenya. They are very fast runners and give me the creeps. I try and remind myself when I see them that they eat the scorpions. Just a feeble attempt to calm myself and not turn to jelly when I see one.
Wonderful video footage linked at the bottom of the Snopes information webpage.
Posted by: Jennifer on April 19, 2004 01:52 PMYou may be right Scott. Looking at the picture again, the "camel spider" is very close to the lens. I now recognize the sleeve cuff of the solider holding it and have a better perspective. At first glance, the body looks to be as long as the thigh of solider in the ground.
Posted by: Jennifer on April 19, 2004 02:03 PMsorry, make that "thigh of the solider in the background"
Posted by: Jennifer on April 19, 2004 02:05 PMdon't care one way or the other. if they are 3" across or 10" across - they are spiders and must die. Die. DIE. DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ron on April 19, 2004 07:12 PMFirst time I saw one was in our camp in Oman during Desert Shield/Storm. Thought it was tumbleweed at first...but, it didn't go the way the wind was blowing.
The body was at least 4" off the ground!
Posted by: Charles on May 22, 2005 10:24 PM