Are Tailless Whip Scorpions Dangerous? Uncovering the Truth

folder_openAmblypygi, Arachnida
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Tailless whip scorpions, also known as amblypygids, have a unique and intimidating appearance.

Their flat bodies, long whip-like legs, and powerful, spiny pedipalps can make them look quite fearsome. But are these creatures as dangerous as they appear?

In reality, tailless whip scorpions are not as dangerous as one might think.

Unlike true scorpions, they don’t possess venom glands or a stinger, which means they don’t pose a threat to humans through stinging.

However, their pedipalps can still give a harmless but surprising pinch if they feel threatened.

Overall, tailless whip scorpions are more fascinating than dangerous, and their fearsome appearance is merely a case of looks being deceiving.

 

Are Tailless Whip Scorpions Dangerous

 

What Are Tailless Whip Scorpions

Arachnid Classification

Tailless whip scorpions, also known as Amblypygi, belong to the Arachnid class. Unlike insects, arachnids have:

  • Four pairs of legs
  • Two main body parts: the cephalothorax and the abdomen

Some examples of arachnids include spiders, scorpions, and mites.

Physical Appearance

Tailless whip scorpions have unique characteristics that set them apart from other arachnids:

  • Flat body
  • Ten legs; the first pair are long, thin, and whip-like
  • Pedipalps (front arms) with spines and pincers, adapted for sensory and predatory use

Size and Species

There are over 150 species of tailless whip scorpions, spread across five large genera.

Sizes vary by species; for example, those found in the El Yunque National Forest can measure between 19 to 25 inches (48 to 63 cm).

Here’s a comparison of tailless whip scorpions to other arachnids in terms of size and appearance:

Feature Tailless Whip Scorpion Spider Scorpion
Number of legs 10 8 8
Body type Flat Segmented Segmented
Size range 19-25 inches (48-63 cm) Varies Varies

Habitat and Distribution

Natural Habitats

Tailless whip scorpions inhabit a variety of ecosystems, including:

  • Tropical regions
  • Subtropical areas
  • Caves which serve as shelter

These creatures prefer environments that offer high humidity, warmth, and a sufficient food supply.

 

 

Geographical Range

The geographical range of tailless whip scorpions spans across different continents:

  • South America: A significant number are found in countries such as Brazil and Ecuador.
  • Africa: They are also prevalent in some African nations.
  • Asia: Whip scorpions can be found in countries like India and Indonesia.

To summarize, tailless whip scorpions can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Africa, and Asia.

They typically inhabit caves, where the conditions are optimal for their survival.

Behavior and Lifestyle

Nocturnal Activities

Tailless whip scorpions are primarily nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active during nighttime.

Having poor eyesight, they rely on their long first legs (antenniform legs) to navigate and sense their environments.

Diet and Feeding Habits

These fascinating arachnids primarily feed on:

  • Crickets
  • Roaches
  • Small spiders
  • Other large insects

Using their powerful pincers (pedipalps), they catch their prey effortlessly. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are harmless to humans and non-venomous.

 

Tailless Whipscorpion

 

Mating and Reproduction

Tailless whip scorpions have a unique courtship behavior involving:

  • Tapping and stroking using their antenniform legs
  • Male depositing a spermatophore
  • Female picking up the spermatophore with her genital opening

Their mating process can last several hours, and females carry fertilized eggs internally until they molt, releasing the offspring.

Defense Mechanisms

These timid creatures use their intimidating appearance and pedipalps as defensive mechanisms.

In addition, some species like the vinegaroon can emit an acetic acid mixture when threatened, giving an unpleasant odor.

However, they are not dangerous and generally avoid confrontation.

Comparison Table: Tailless Whip Scorpion vs. Cave Spider

Feature Tailless Whip Scorpion Cave Spider
Legs 10 8
Venomous No Yes
Size 19-25 inches Smaller
Diet Insects, spiders Insects
Harmful to Humans No No
Other Names Vinegaroon, whip spider

In conclusion, tailless whip scorpions are shy, nocturnal, and fascinating arachnids with unique behaviors and characteristics.

Despite their intimidating appearance, they pose no threat to humans and are an interesting subject for enthusiasts and researchers alike.

Tailless Whip Scorpions as Pets

Caring for Tailless Whip Scorpions

Tailless whip scorpions are unique pets that require a specific environment and diet. Creating a suitable enclosure for them involves incorporating a few crucial elements:

  • Substrate: A mix of coconut fiber and soil provides a good foundation for their habitat.
  • Hiding spots: Tailless whip scorpions need dark places to hide, so adding cork bark or caves is essential.
  • Climbing surfaces: These creatures enjoy climbing, so incorporating branches or mesh for them to grip onto is necessary.

Feeding your tailless whip scorpion entails a diet of live insects, such as grasshoppers and mealworms.

Remember to gut-load the insects for added nutrition. Offer them food 2-3 times a week, depending on their size and age.

 

Tailless Whipscorpion

 

Is It Safe to Keep Them as Pets?

While tailless whip scorpions might seem intimidating, they pose little threat to humans.

Unlike true scorpions, they do not have venomous stingers. They belong to the families Charinidae and Phrynichidae, which are known for their less aggressive nature.

Here are some key differences between tailless whip scorpions and true scorpions:

Feature Tailless Whip Scorpion True Scorpion
Appearance Flat body, long, whip-like legs Bulky body, fat tail with stinger
Venom No venom Venomous (some species more than others)
Aggressiveness Less aggressive Varies by species, some are aggressive
Suitable as a pet for beginners Yes Depends on species, some are not suitable for beginners

In conclusion, tailless whip scorpions are fascinating creatures that can make intriguing pets for responsible owners.

As long as you provide proper care and a suitable habitat, they can safely share your home.

Notable Species of Tailless Whip Scorpions

Damon Diadema

  • Commonly found in Tanzania and Kenya
  • Often kept as a pet due to its impressive appearance

Damon Diadema is a well-known species of tailless whip scorpions, native to Tanzania and Kenya.

They are quite popular as pets, thanks to their fascinating and intimidating appearance.

Euphrynichus Amanica

  • Found in East Africa
  • Known for their fast movement

Euphrynichus Amanica is a species of tailless whip scorpions that can be found in East Africa. This particular species is known for its quick movement and ability to escape predators.

Acanthophrynus Coronatus

  • Native to Mexico
  • Unique protrusions from their body

Acanthophrynus Coronatus is a unique tailless whip scorpion species that is found in Mexico.

They are known for the distinctive protrusions extending from their bodies, making them easy to identify.

Phrynus Marginemaculatus

  • Found in Central America
  • Known for their ability to defend themselves

Phrynus Marginemaculatus is a species of tailless whip scorpions native to Central America.

They are known for their effectiveness in terms of self-defense, which is essential for their survival in the wild.

 

Tailless Whipscorpion

 

Paracharon

  • Rare species
  • Found in Africa and Asia

The Paracharon is a rare species of tailless whip scorpion that can be found in select regions of Africa and Asia.

Due to their rarity, not much is known about this particular species.

Charontidae

  • Large family of whip scorpions
  • Found in various parts of the world

Charontidae is a large family of tailless whip scorpions that can be found in different corners of the world.

This family includes various species with diverse appearances and characteristics.

Phrynidae

  • Another extensive family of whip scorpions
  • Found around the globe

Phrynidae is another extensive family of tailless whip scorpions, similarly found in various parts of the world.

Just like the Charontidae, this family contains numerous species with unique features and characteristics.

Comparison table:

Species Geographic Location Unique Characteristics
Damon Diadema Tanzania and Kenya Popular as pets
Euphrynichus Amanica East Africa Fast movement
Acanthophrynus Coronatus Mexico Protrusions from body
Phrynus Marginemaculatus Central America Effective self-defense
Paracharon Africa and Asia Rare species
Charontidae Various locations Large family of species
Phrynidae Various locations Another extensive family

Are Tailless Whip Scorpions Dangerous? Myths and Misconceptions

Venom and Stinging Capabilities

Contrary to popular belief, tailless whip scorpions are not venomous. They do not have venom glands or venomous fangs, and they do not possess a stinger.

Instead, these fascinating creatures rely on their spiny and powerful pedipalps (pincer-bearing front arms) for capturing their prey and for self-defense1.

Here are some key attributes of tailless whip scorpions:

  • No venom glands
  • No venomous fangs
  • No stinger
  • Spiny and powerful pedipalps

 

Tailless Whipscorpion

 

Confusion with Vinegaroons and Other Arachnids

Tailless whip scorpions are often confused with vinegaroons (giant whip scorpions) and other arachnids2.

While they all belong to the same class – Arachnida – their characteristics and behaviors differ significantly. Let’s compare tailless whip scorpions and vinegaroons through a comparison table:

Feature Tailless Whip Scorpion Vinegaroon
Venom None Vinegar-like substance
Sting None Capable of spraying
Color Varies, often brown or red Dark brown or black
Courtship Gentle and animated3 Not well-documented

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s essential to understand the differences and characteristics of these unique arachnids to dispel the myths and misconceptions.

Tailless Whip Scorpions are not at all dangerous to humans, despite the many myths surrounding them.

Knowing their features will help in appreciating their distinct behaviors and avoiding unnecessary fear or harm.

Footnotes

  1. Tailless Whip-Scorpion – US Forest Service

  2. Giant Whip Scorpion – Mastigoproctus giganteus giganteus (Lucas, 1835)

  3. Tailless Whip-scorpions – Amblypygi

 

 

Whipscorpion Cannibalism

Authors

  • Bugman

    Bugman aka Daniel Marlos has been identifying bugs since 1999. whatsthatbug.com is his passion project and it has helped millions of readers identify the bug that has been bugging them for over two decades. You can reach out to him through our Contact Page.

    View all posts
  • Piyushi is a nature lover, blogger and traveler at heart. She lives in beautiful Canada with her family. Piyushi is an animal lover and loves to write about all creatures.

    View all posts
Tags: Tailless Whip Scorpion

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8 Comments. Leave new

  • Hello
    This is also from Puerto Vallarta.
    After reading your information I feel so bad because we had one of these spectacular beautiful insects at home and one of our employees killed him. He said the insect was worse than a scorpion. I am really so sorry I was not aware that it is a harmless being.

    Most people will say it is not a very attractive insect but I think it is. Now I have to start a campaing to let people know about the good things about this inofensive creature.

    Best to all of you
    Luis M de Velasco
    Puerto Vallarta

    Reply
  • I live on the coast in Mexico…actually the area is jungle. The locals had told me about the cancle…they call it the mother of scopians and say that it is highly dangerous. I had a rather large one in my bathroom and fearing for my dog who goes after everything, I sprayed it. I put it in a zip lock and brought it to my vet who is also a zoologist. He told me what it was and brought out a book with numerous photos…also told me that the locals are wrong about it. This was several weeks ago. Today lunching with some Mexicans we were talking about bugs and they mentioned the dangerous cancle. I didn’t remember the name of the bug I had before so this time I wrote the name down and looked it up at your website. Sure enough it was the same bug.
    I live in an environment where bugs are common place, but am not happy when they are scorpions, alacrans or 8 inch long centipedes; they have their life ended. The beautiful brown and rust tarantula on my terrace this morning was scooted off before my dog saw it and ended his life.
    I’ve had pet praying mantis living in a vase of flowers for weeks. I feed it bugs with a tweezer and mist them periodically.

    Reply
  • Reply
  • This photograph was taken from the following photobucket account

    http://s233.photobucket.com/user/SCABIES_Pictures/library/Po%20metallica%20ventral%20sexing?sort=3&page=3

    The owner of the account had identified it as Damon medius

    Reply
    • Thanks for the information. According to Panarthropoda, the genus Damon is from Africa. The person who submitted the image to our site for identification confirmed that a neighbor created a hoax by claiming a Michigan sighting.

      Reply
  • The first time I saw a tailless whip scorpion was in a beach house in Puerto Vallarta when I was 12. It was above my pillow and it scared the crap out of me! After I described it to the owners of the house, or series of cabanas really, and they told me about the legend of the dangerous cancle. Stating that it’s venom will make you pass out for about 12 hours but after that you will be ok. Needless to say I had a hard time falling asleep that night! It’s nice to know I was never in real danger, but sleeping in the jungle came with its adventures!

    Reply
  • What’s Eric Eaton even trying to say? Smh whipspider and tailless whipscorpion are both accepted names for the species, and actually among breeders I hear whipspider more often

    Reply
  • Sandra Guérin
    June 18, 2019 9:14 am

    the amblypige (whip scorpion) are common pet insect and can be found in a lot of exotic pet store.
    I would believe this one to be a household exotic pet.
    very unfortunate for the hoax, but still a nice picture of an arachnid not Sandra Guérin

    Reply

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