PEEP THOSE PEDIPALPS: In close proximity to its antenniform legs and mouth, Phrynus pseudoparvulus, has a formidable set of pedipalps, grasping appendages used to secure prey.RICH BRADLEY, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Whip spiders, also known as tailless whip scorpions, are actually neither spiders nor scorpions. These strange creatures belong to a separate arachnid order called Amblypygi, meaning “blunt rump,” a reference to their lack of tails.
Little was known about whip spiders before the turn of this century, but a recent flurry of behavioral and neurophysiological studies has opened a window into their unique sensory world. Researchers have discovered that some of the more than 150 species engage in curious behaviors, including homing, territorial defense, cannibalism, and tender social interactions—all mediated by a pair of unusual sensory organs.
Like all arachnids, whip spiders have eight legs. However, they walk on only six. The front two legs are elongated, antennae-like sensory structures called antenniform legs. These legs, ...
