#solfugid

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Rhagodima cf. nigrocincta a species of Solfugid or camel spider (aka sun spider or wind scorpion) found in India

Camel Spider Digging Near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Solifugae is an order of Arachnida, containing more than 1,000 described species in about 153 genera. The name derives from Latin, and means those that flee from the sun. The order is also known by the names Solpugida, Solpugides, Solpugae, Galeodea and Mycetophorae. Their common names include camel spider, wind scorpion, jerrymuglum, sun scorpion and sun spider.

Solifugae are not true spiders, which are from a different order, Araneae. Like scorpions and harvestmen, they belong to a distinct arachnid order. Solifugae are considered to be endemic indicators of desert biomes.

I was hiking with my family at a desert near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia called Osfan/Asfan. During all that fun, I accidentally walked over this spider. Gladly without harming. The huge thing was busy on some of it's work & I kept watching until I was completely shocked of mother nature that these creatures are really smart. The way this giant buddy was building up a home for itself, I managed to get some footage. 

Gaucha santana • New Species of the Sun Spider Genus Gaucha (Solifugae, Mummuciidae) from Argentina and Brazil

Two new species in the South American sun-spider family Mummuciidae are herein described. Gaucha ramirezi sp. nov. is known from the Chancaní Provincial Park and Forest Reserve, Córdoba province, Argentina, and further reported for a single locality to the northeast, in Santiago del Estero province. The systematic position of this species is uncertain and it is not assigned to any species-group of Gaucha Mello-Leitão, 1924.

The other species, Gaucha santana sp. nov., is only known from the Ibirapuitã Environmental Protection Area, in the southern Brazilian state of #RioGrandedoSul, and is a member of the fasciata species-group. With these descriptions, the number of known species of Gaucha is raised to eleven.

Camel Spiders -  order Solifugae

... are an order of arachnidas, known variously as camel spiders, wind scorpions, sun spiders, or solifuges. The order includes more than 1,000 described species in about 153 genera.

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". Unlike spiders, they are not venomous.

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 12–15 cm (5–6 in), including legs. A number of urban legends exaggerate the size and speed of the Solifugae, and their potential danger to humans, which is negligible...

(read more: Wikipedia)