The
Solifugae are an
order of
animals in the
class Arachnida known variously as
camel spiders,
wind scorpions,
sun spiders, or
solifuges. The order includes more than 1,000 described
species in about 153
genera. Despite the common names, they are neither true
scorpions (order Scorpiones) nor true spiders (order
Araneae) – though they are more closely related to scorpions than to spiders. Much like a spider, the body of a solifugid has two
tagmata: an
opisthosoma (abdomen) behind the
prosoma (that is, in effect, a combined head and thorax). At the front end, the prosoma bears two
chelicerae that, in most species, are conspicuously large. The chelicerae serve as jaws and in many species also are used for
stridulation. Unlike scorpions, solifugids do not have a third tagma that forms a "tail". Most species of Solifugae live in
dry climates and feed opportunistically on ground-dwelling
arthropods and other small animals. The largest species grow to a length of , including legs. A number of urban legends exaggerate the size and speed of the Solifugae, and their potential danger to humans, which is negligible.