Windscorpions

Order Solifugae

The Windscorpions (Order Solifugae) includes 34 species across 2 families and 11 genera in our directory.

About Windscorpions

Solifugae (sun spiders/camel spiders/wind scorpions) includes ~1,100 described species. Despite terrifying appearances, they are non-venomous and harmless to humans. They can run up to 10 mph (16 km/h), making them among the fastest arachnids.

Economic Impact

Solifuges have no significant economic impact. They gained widespread internet fame during the Iraq War when exaggerated photos circulated showing them as enormously large.

Ecological Role

Solifuges are voracious nocturnal predators that hunt insects, spiders, and even small lizards. They have the largest jaws relative to body size of any arachnid. Unlike spiders, they have no venom and kill prey purely with mechanical force.

Families in Solifugae (2)

Species in Solifugae (34)

Eremocosta gigasella

Eremocosta gigasella

Eremocosta gigasella

Eremobatidae

Identification: Female Eremocosta gigasella described in Brookhart and Cushing 2002

Ammotrechella stimpsoni

Ammotrechella stimpsoni

Ammotrechella stimpsoni

no rights reserved

Ammotrechidae

Ammotrechula catalinae

Ammotrechula catalinae

Ammotrechula catalinae

Ammotrechidae

Branchia potens

Branchia potens

Branchia potens

Ammotrechidae

Chanbria rectus

Chanbria rectus

Chanbria rectus

Eremobatidae

Chanbria regalis

Chanbria regalis

Chanbria regalis

Eremobatidae

Eremobates ajoanus

Eremobates ajoanus

Eremobates ajoanus

Eremobatidae

Eremobates angustus

Eremobates angustus

Eremobates angustus

Eremobatidae

Eremobates bixleri

Eremobates bixleri

Eremobates bixleri

Eremobatidae

Eremobates corpink

Eremobates corpink

Eremobates corpink

Eremobatidae

Eremobates gerbae

Eremobates gerbae

Eremobates gerbae

Eremobatidae

Eremobates icenogelei

Eremobates icenogelei

Eremobates icenogelei

Eremobatidae

Eremobates inkopansis

Eremobates inkopansis

Eremobates inkopansis

Eremobatidae

Eremobates kiseri

Eremobates kiseri

Eremobates kiseri

Eremobatidae

Eremobates marathoni

Eremobates marathoni

Eremobates marathoni

Eremobatidae

Eremobates nodularis

Eremobates nodularis

Eremobates nodularis

Eremobatidae

Eremobates norrisi

Eremobates norrisi

Eremobates norrisi

Eremobatidae

Eremobates pallidus

Eremobates pallidus

Eremobates pallidus

Eremobatidae

Eremobates palpisetulosus

Eremobates palpisetulosus

Eremobates palpisetulosus

Eremobatidae

Eremobates polhemusi

Eremobates polhemusi

Eremobates polhemusi

Eremobatidae

Eremobates socal

Eremobates socal

Eremobates socal

Eremobatidae

Eremochelis bilobatus

Eremochelis bilobatus

Eremochelis bilobatus

Eremobatidae

Eremochelis oregonensis

Eremochelis oregonensis

Eremochelis oregonensis

Eremobatidae

Eremocosta striata

Eremocosta striata

Eremocosta striata

Eremobatidae

Eremothera drachmani

Eremothera drachmani

Eremothera drachmani

Eremobatidae

Eremothera sculpturata

Eremothera sculpturata

Eremothera sculpturata

Eremobatidae

Hemerotrecha cornuta

Hemerotrecha cornuta

Hemerotrecha cornuta

Eremobatidae

Hemerotrecha hanfordana

Hemerotrecha hanfordana

Hemerotrecha hanfordana

Eremobatidae

Hemerotrecha prenticei

Hemerotrecha prenticei

Hemerotrecha prenticei

Eremobatidae

Hemerotrecha sevilleta

Hemerotrecha sevilleta

Hemerotrecha sevilleta

Eremobatidae

Hemerotrecha vetteri

Hemerotrecha vetteri

Hemerotrecha vetteri

Eremobatidae

Horribates bantai

Horribates bantai

Horribates bantai

Eremobatidae

Horribates spinigerus

Horribates spinigerus

Horribates spinigerus

Eremobatidae

Pale Windscorpion

Pale Windscorpion

Eremobates pallipes

Eremobatidae

Sources: Arachnology research, natural history