Tailless Whip Scorpion - Charinus pescotti

Amblypygids (Tailless whip spiders) are an ancient order of arachnids found in most parts of the world, in the tropics and subtropics. In other parts of the world, amblypygids can reach 45cm, but here in Australia, this species reaches 13mm in body length.

They are arachnids, and while they appear to have 6 legs and antennae, they actually have 4 legs and no antennae , with the 4th pair modified into extremely long feeling appendages, which can be used to both feel the surroundings and also herd prey into the amblypygids’ spiny embrace. These amblypygids are found in the rainforests of FNQ.

These animals have spiny, clubbed appendages in front of the head called pedipalps. In this species they’re quite small and they are used to crush and pulverise prey into a more digestable pulp.

Amblypygids posses neither bad attitudes nor venom and are completely harmless.

These animals require moist coco peat and some sort of timber to dwell on – firewood pieces work well for this as does pieces of driftwood. Ensure that the timber can not fall and crush them. They can be housed communally with no problems, except gravid females which may become aggressive.