Pictures: "Bizarre" New Tailless Whip Scorpions Found

Prickly Character

Photograph courtesy Cahyo Rahmadi

Its spine-studded pedipalp appendages may look fearsome in close-up, but the new whip spider species Sarax sangkulirangensis—found in limestone caves in 2004—is relatively small at about a third of an inch (eight millimeters) long.

To find the four new species, study leader Rahmadi and colleagues traveled to remote Bornean locations, some accessible only by helicopter. But the chance to explore sights such as the "magnificent" Sangkulirang (map) karst was worth it, he said by email. (See pictures of Indonesia.)

(Related: "Young Whip Spiders Stay in Touch.")

Published September 28, 2010

Long Arm of the Maw

Photograph courtesy Cahyo Rahmadi

Males of the new whip spider species Sarax mardua (pictured) have longer pedipalps than females.

Found in 2004, Sarax mardua lives only in the limestone caves of Sangkulirang, Indonesia, study leader Rahmadi said.

(See related pictures: "New Species Found in 'Lost World': Pinocchio Frog, More.")

Published September 28, 2010

Spiny Predator

Photograph courtesy Cahyo Rahmadi

The newfound whip spider Sarax cavernicola is unique in that its primary pedipalp spines (pictured) are equal in size—other species in the genus have different-size primary spines, according to study leader Rahmadi.

Discovered in 2004, S. cavernicola also stands out because of its pale coloration and tiny eyes, adapted to dark cave life. In addition, S. cavernicola is big for a whip spider—about a half inch (12 millimeters) long.

Whip spiders hunt cave crickets, cave cockroaches, and other small invertebrates. Some Caribbean species will occasionally go underwater to hunt prawns, Rahmadi said.

(See "Water Spider Spins Its Own 'Scuba Tank.'")

Published September 28, 2010

Ready for Its Close-Up

Photograph courtesy Cahyo Rahmadi

Along with the new whip spiders (pictured, Sarax cavernicola head), Rahmadi's cave explorations uncovered new types of cave crabs and cave millipedes as well as a known species of giant cave cockroach.

(See pictures of "surreal" cave formations in Borneo.)

Published September 28, 2010

Borneo Wanderer

Photograph courtesy Cahyo Rahmadi

Males of the newfound Sarax yayukae whip spider species have "strong and slender" pedipalps (pictured), while females have "shorter and stouter" mandibles, study leader Rahmadi said.

The species was first spotted in 2004 in a variety of habitats—both inside and outside of caves—suggesting S. yayukae can disperse farther than other whip spiders, he said.

(See a picture of a rare Kauai cave wolf spider carrying its babies.)

Published September 28, 2010