Tailless Whip Scorpion

Order Amblypygi — the whip spiders or tailless whip scorpions — contains about 200 species of cave-dwelling and forest-dwelling arachnids that are widely misunderstood. Despite the alarming appearance (flattened body, raptorial spiked pedipalps held forward, and absurdly long antenniform first legs), the order has no venom, no sting, and no other defensive armament; they are completely harmless to humans. The first pair of legs has evolved into sensory whips (up to 60 cm in some Damon species) covered in mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors — the spider 'tastes' and 'feels' her environment with these whips, which serve the same function that antennae serve in insects. Locomotion is on the remaining six legs in a sideways crab-like walk. Prey is grabbed with the spiked pedipalps and crushed; whip spiders eat insects, other arachnids, and small vertebrates. Amblypygi is one of the most ancient surviving arachnid orders, with fossils dating to the Carboniferous (~350 million years ago) — the body plan has barely changed in that time. The species are nocturnal and inhabit caves, rock crevices, and the spaces under rotting logs. Damon variegatus is one of several common species in the African and Caribbean exotic pet trade. The order received an unusual cultural moment when one was used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as the demonstration animal for the Cruciatus Curse.