False spider. View of a false spider or sun scorpion,Galeodes arab,standing on pebbles. False spiders belong to the order Solifugae. Solifugids have two parts to their yellow body: a prosoma,which includes its head (at centre left) and an opisthosoma,or abdomen (at centre right). The leglike pedipalps,used for locating prey,are at the front of the body. Behind these are the four pairs of real legs. The first small pair of legs act as touch organs. False spiders are nocturnal,usually living in burrows in hot,dry areas. They are predatory animals,catching and killing prey in their powerful jaws. Magnification: x0.5 at 35mm size |