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FAST AS THE WIND


FAST AS THE WIND
Photo Information
Copyright: Radomir Jaskula (cicindela) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1306 W: 0 N: 2925] (8635)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-04-18
Categories: Spiders
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400, 35-105 mm 1:4,5-5,6, @ ISO 50
Exposure: f/7.8
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Arthropods except insects [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-05-26 15:49
Viewed: 825
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It's night, somewhere in the middle of a desert... On the surface of sand something is running. It is running very fast. As fast as only wind can do!

Well, the true is that it could be only a part of a legend, as this little arachnid can run perhaps 16 kilometers per hour (some 10 mph), but it is still nearly half as fast as the fastest human sprinter! Of course it is far away from the wind speed but it is enough to give this little creature a name Wind Scorpion and belong to genus Galeodes (Solifugae: Galeodidae). Most probably it is a juvelive individual (some 15mm).

The traslation from this Latin name is "those that flee from the sun" what clearly explains their night period of activity - that is why they are often named sun scorpion or sun spider. Sometimes, thanks to their morphological features "similar" to camel's, this group of arachnids is named also camel spiders.

As this creature is not identify to the species level, here are some information about the order Solifugae:

Diversity: about 1000species

Distribution: tropical regions except Australia

Habitats: terrestrial, usually deserts

Life-style: predators hunting on different invertebrates and small vertebrates

This group of arachnids is not venomous!


Picture was taken during night, after some 15 minutes of chase, and with help of two of my friends. Believe me, even if this arachnid was not so fast as the wind, it was not easy to take ths photo... :>
Argus, matatur, anel, Marx44, boreocypriensis, meyerd, cedryk has marked this note useful
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To Argus: camel spidereuroblinkie 1 05-28 05:50
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2009-05-26 22:10]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
Surely this is a first for TN!
A great capture of this unusual arachnid taken from a good lateral POV with fine sharpness and good use of flash. You did well to chase it and get this Speedy Gonzales!
Thanks and best regards from Ĺhus,
Ivan

Merhaba Radomir,
Thank you indeed for this maybe frequently seen but surely very rarely photographed scene my friend, a galeodid on the run under the cover of darkness! A young member of an archaic group of arachnids resembling the true spiders but differing from them in several ways, one is, as you have mentioned, they are not venomous but they do possess powerful mandibles (partly visible in your pfoto) an can inflict a painful bite, also their abdominal segments are not fused like those of a true spider, again perfectly visible in your capture.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1722 W: 0 N: 3901] (15676)
  • [2009-05-27 4:27]

Hello Radomir,
In the desert you have seen some very special creatures, like this one. Great to show them on TN. I never heard about this Wind Scorpion and I'm happy to read that it is not venomous.
Great document for which I would like to thank you
Anne

Hi Radomir,
Thanks for showing us this strange creature from the desert.
Given their nocturnal behaviour,you'd think they'd call this 'Night Scorpion (or Spider)instead of 'Sun'
It does look like a fast runner too!
Great capture and document
Cheers
Steve

hello Radomir
great picture good sharpness and details
beautiful insect
i found in Costa Rica a little insect of this fam in my bed

greeting lou

Witam
Ciekawy owad, jak coś takiego przebiegnie w nocy to można faktycznie się wystraszyć.
Bardzo dobra kompozycja, ale jak na mój monitor to trochę za ciemne, chociaż była to noc to może być ciemne :D
Serdeczności
Marx

Hi Radek, what a weirdd and beautiful:> camel spider! You are very lucky that you could see and photographed this spectacular Solifugid species. Wonderful POV with fine composition and details.
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,
Bayram

Ciao Radomir, great capture of strange creature, great macro with fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Radomir,
Fascinating animal.
Night picture are difficult. Especially if the subject keeps running. very natural light from the flash. well done.
TFS
Jean-Marie

Hi Radomir,
I had to reconsult your Morocco chapter of your gallery! I see you also had to work with a compact camera, so you are also having the difficulties with the automatic metering, focusing and the absence of a good finder. Taking all this into account, you got extremely good shots, like this one with the Solifug.

My best egard
Dietrich

  •      
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 966 W: 52 N: 1694] (5184)
  • [2009-08-30 6:57]

Hej,
Fajny zwierzak - wyglada jak skrzyzowanie pajaka, skorpiona i swierszcza :-) Z wielbladem jakos mi sie nie kojarzy. Ujecie ciekawe choc u mnie cos za ciemno to wyglada. Serdecznosci,
Michal

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