Together with other spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks, the whip spiders (Amblypygi) belong to the arachnids. At present, scientists know of around 150 different species which mainly occur in tropic areas, for example rainforests. Many whip spiders rest beneath logs, bark, or stones during the day and become active only at night. When it gets dark the animals leave their hideouts and search for prey such as insects. Although they look fearsome (with their legs being up to 30 cm long!), whip spiders are actually quite harmless for humans.
I took their photographs during a night walk through the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve near Manaus, Brazil, in September 2010. Although the area is inhabited by many large animal species, such as jaguars and tapirs, it is the arthropod world which a visitor will see: abundant bugs, butterflies, ants, scorpions, and spiders crawling through the undergrowth – eat or get eaten! A true green hell!
no.
come on – give me more! 🙂
No spiders.
but they are so fascinating! Anyways, there will be no more spiders (or whip spiders) in this blog for some time now… rest assured!
😉 Goooooood. Love the blog btw
thanks so much!! 🙂 and I really like your drawings/sketches…
Auuuugh….
Happy Halloween!
hehe – right, I didn’t think about it, but it’s almost perfect timing!
thanks for your comment!
Oh Lord!!! Another to add to my list of fears of traveling to other countries! Great photos
thanks! 🙂
I am different i love arachnids one of my great pleasures was holding a tarantula wonderful , whip spiders look fascinating
thanks for your comment! You are right, they are fascinating and very beautiful animals!!
Scary looking spider!
He’s a nasty looking fellow, isn’t he? And big! 😯 Good to know he’s harmless.
Spiders are fascinating creatures. My favorites are the tiny jumpers. Wolf spiders come in a close second place.