Friday, June 20, 2008

Camel Spiders Are Not for the Faint of Heart

This is completely out there and the last time I checked this blog wasn't really about spiders--not so much--but our household was engrossed for more than a few minutes looking at these bad boys: camel spiders.


They're not really spiders (as if that matters at all) but can run 10 miles per hour and pretty much aren't scared of anything. Check out how this guy's body squirms like he's into yoga or something. I think they also wield light sabers as an added defense mechanism.

Apparently there's a myth going around (and I didn't make this up) that they run 30 miles an hour, screaming as they chase their prey and their bite is numbing so you can't feel it when they begin to eat you piece by piece as you sleep. Pretty. Though I don't think that anything made up could be as scary as real life--kind of makes you question any belief you might have had in "Intelligent" Design doesn't it?

Camel spiders (that aren't spiders and aren't camels) live in the desert and I'll tell you if you weren't already praying for the troops in Iraq this'll get you started--if given the choice between facing down Al Quaida and a bunch of camel spiders I think I'd take my chances with the guys in the turbans.

One more reason I'm glad I live in the land of permafrost.

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34 comments:

United Studies said...

Yikes!! I have the creeps now. I'd cry if I saw something like that coming at me.

Anonymous said...

LoL @jacki.
BTW Superb Post....

Thank.

Anonymous said...

That? Is wicked!

Anonymous said...

Ewwwwwwww!! Gross!!!!!Gen-IL Homesteader

Suburban Correspondent said...

Thanks. A. Lot.

Excuse me, I have to go lock myself in my bathroom and scream for about an hour.

Anonymous said...

O.o scary! Now I am going to suffer from nightmares!! lol

ps. since you often have cute craft/ cooking ideas, I assumed this post was going to teach me how to make candy- shaped spiders :P LOL

Carina said...

AAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!

merideth said...

whole heartedly creeped out. and yet i watched twice. (shudder)

Anonymous said...

I was scanning too fast and read "caramel spiders." Sadly, my eyes deceived me! Eek!

Amber M. said...

Tony got to experience these big guys first hand in Iraq. Certainly creeped us out when he got home and showed us the poictures. Ack.

Anonymous said...

Now i quite like spiders and creepy crawly things but this takes the biscuit!

Anonymous said...

Spiders and things that look like spiders creep me out. I can't believe that I actually clicked on the link and watched not once, but three times.

Anonymous said...

What an odd animal...thing.

Ten legs and two eyes? Sounds like an alien.

SimplyAmusingDesigns.com said...

Those things are just creepy. Yucko. I feel the need for a shower now.

Lisa said...

Oh ick. Those things scare the poo out of me. Holy hell!

Ok. No vacations in the dessert -- ever!

Cagey (Kelli Oliver George) said...

One correction to that guy's commentary - they do have 8 legs, the 2 "extra" legs he was referring to are called pedipalps. (sorry, cannot resist).

Glad I am not the only posting creepy crawlie fodder! Which reminds me, I need to put up some new snaps of Sofia, our tarantula.

Also, in case anyone needs to know for say, a rockin' game of Trivial Pursuit, they are not spiders, true. But they are an arachnid.

Great post, close to my heart. hee!

Janet said...

I will admit I did NOT watch the video. As it is, I'm going to have to lock myself in the bathroom with Suburban Correspondent.

Annette Lyon said...

Oh, oh, oh . . . I'll be shuddering all day now. Thanks.

Ick. *Shudder.*

Roo said...

I'll be with Janet & suburbancorrespondent in the bathroom! I absolutely hate spiders!! I watched about 10 seconds of the video and had to kill it. I have the shivers now.

Scribbit said...

you're right cagey and i think they're also a "solufugid" too--we had to look it up.

jean said...

That is disgusting. I have never seen one before! Great, now I'm itchy and twitching just thinking about it.

Anonymous said...

Do you have any idea the kind of will I had to summon in order to just watch that video? Spiders have always freaked me out.

Becky said...

Actually, no. It doesn't make me question my belief in Intelligent Design.

Just thought I'd answer your question. :o)

The Estrogen Files said...

Pretty gross, huh? I'd seen this before, after a solider came this past winter and spoke to Oldest's 5th grade class about service in Iraq. Ewww....

Killlashandra said...

Ok, I hate to sound like pacifist because normally I just step on any spiders I come across inside the same place I am, however, watching the poor thing strapped to a box, it had my sympathies.

Put it out of it's misery.

Although the fact they run 10 miles an hour is pretty scary.

Lapa37 said...

Thats' just nasty and here I was paranoid about the spiders we have here in N.C.I am positive I would have a panic attack if I ever saw one that big.

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Anonymous said...

Watching that video made my stomach feel like I was riding a roller coaster full of loop-de-loops... Or spinning on one of those fun-houses where the floor drops out... or like I ate something REALLY bad for lunch. :X

Seriously, that thing is WICKED! Please tell me they don't live down here in Texas.. I've already got my hands full with the bugs I do know about.

Anonymous said...

Yuck! I got the heebeegeebees and couldn't even watch more than the first 3 seconds of the video! Nasty creature.

Unknown said...

i agree with Killlashandra. it's kinda sad to see it tied down and struggling.

AlaneM said...

I've seen that one before...my hubby was obsessed with looking for camel spider videos on youtube for awhile.
YUCK!!

Anonymous said...

Eewww...that is creepy. I never want to bump into that in my life!

Scribbit said...

Okay those expressing sympathy for the spider? I've got say "WHAT??!" My biggest question is did that guy's lizard survive the feeding time? :) I think it was going to have its work cut out for him with that guy.

Anonymous said...

That's just gross. My son is having nightmares about bugs now - that would throw him into hyperdrive!!

Jolanthe