Giant whip scorpions have walked the Earth for millions of years, all the while lashing out at enemies in unexpected ways. Not really a scorpion, this arachnid has powerful claws with which it kills prey, and it can rear up its tail to threaten enemies with what looks like a scorpion's deadly sting. But the giant whip scorpion is a trickster. It squirts acid in an attacker's face to drive it away.
Whip Tail: This arachnid is named for its slender tail (telson), which the creature raises high in the air when threatened to fool enemies into thinking it's venomous, like a scorpion. The telson actually helps the creature "sniff" the air with its sensory hairs.
Squirter: When the giant whip scorpion raises its rear, the creature isn't necessarily bluffing. Attackers that come in for the kill are treated to a squirt in the face. Glands at the base of the tail produce a stinging acid that is loaded with ammonia.
The Claw is the Law[]
With its tail raised, the whip scorpion tries to bluff its way out of danger.
The giant whip scorpion isn't a real scorpion, but is related to them. Instead of killing prey with a venomous sting, this arachnid uses brute force. Its heavy claws are strong and sharp, and can rip insects to shreds in a matter of seconds. The giant whip scorpion can even tussle with larger animals, such as frogs and mice, and slice into them until they're weak from losing too much blood. To eat, the whip scorpion floods the victim's wounds with digestive enzymes so it can slurp up the liquefied remains.
Get a Feel: The giant whip scorpion has eight legs, but walks with only six of them. The front pair face forward and help this predator feel for prey as it scurries across the ground in the dark of night.
Cleanup: This creature's antenna-like front legs are its most important sensory organs. The whip scorpion constantly keeps the feathery sensors on the ends clean by brushing them with the hairs around its mouth.
Rear Guard[]
- While a giant whip scorpion slurps up the guts of a cricket it killed, a Gila monster creeps up in preparation for an attack. The arachnid detects the scent of the lizard through the sensory hairs on its telson, but continues to eat.
- When the Gila monster rushes in for the kill, the giant whip scorpion unleashes a defensive attack. Its squirt of ammonia-acid hits the reptile square in the face, burning its eyes. The Gila monster runs off in pain, and the arachnid finishes its meal.