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Camel Spider: The World's Most Misunderstood Arachnid?
The camel spider might just be the most misunderstood arachnid on the planet. Also known as a wind scorpion, it's neither a spider nor a scorpion.
What is a camel spider?The camel spider is an eight-legged arachnid, but it's not a true spider. Belonging to the order Solifugae, it sits between spiders and scorpions as a separate group within the arachnids, and despite having a reputation for chasing people, it's really not that scary.
Camel spider sizeCamel spiders went viral during the Iraq war of 2003 as photos showed them hanging from troops' uniforms stretching to almost half the length of a human. These images were the result of false perspective, as the camel spider only grows to around 5 centimeters (2 inches) in body length.
Considering most household spiders' body sizes are around a couple of centimeters, that's pretty big, but they're not the giant Skull Island-esque organisms they're made out to be online. One thing that is mega about them is their jaw size, with the largest chelicerae for body size of any of the animals that have these specialized mouthparts. That includes horseshoe crabs, sea spiders, and arachnids, but the camel spider bite isn't all it's cracked up to be.
The camel spider is really just a shade-loving smoothie-enjoyer.
Image credit: RMMPPhotography / Shutterstock.Com
Camel spider biteGet on its nerves and a camel spider will have no problem biting you, and it can be painful, but it won't harm you. Camel spiders have no venom, despite what The Internet might say, so any pain you experience is from bite force alone.
Their diet consists of insects, rodents, lizards, and small birds, and a camel spider kills its prey by liquefying it with digestive fluids. After all, why waste your energy on mastication when you can just slurp up a weevil smoothie?
How fast can a camel spider run?While camel spiders can run very fast, they're nowhere near the rumored 25 miles per hour you'll see on Reddit. "The maximum speed cited in scientific sources is 10 miles per hour [16 km/h], and the only accurately measured speeds I could find were less than 1 mile per hour [1.6 km/h]," explained Curator of Arachnids at the Burke Museum, Rod Crawford.
Camel spiders are also famous for chasing people, something that if you're not expecting it can understandably be quite alarming. The innocent truth is that they have no interest in you, only the shadow you're casting, as their name Solifugae comes from the Latin for "those that flee from the sun". There are some great videos of camel spiders seeking shade in this way.
Do camel spiders screech?As for the "screech" of the camel spider? We regret to inform you that no, these arachnids cannot screech. They can, however, make a small sound that is used during aggression displays, called stridulating.
Stridulation is the act of making sound by rubbing together certain body parts and it's a behavior seen perhaps most famously in crickets. Some of the Solifugae can stridulate using their chelicerae – the paired appendages in front of the mouth – but it creates more of a clicking than a screech.
While the idea of a spider shrieking as it chases you is very funny, the camel spider is a much chiller arachnid than the picture its reputation paints, and humans have little to fear from them. With no venom, what's the harm in lending a fellow Earth resident a little shade? Being a parasol is way cooler than being an arachnid killer.
False Widow Spider 'sucked Lizard Out Like A Stew'
A false widow spider has been recorded feeding on Ireland's only native lizard.
A Dublin woman discovered the spider alongside the small, dead zootoca vivipara - or common lizard, a protected species across the island of Ireland - in her garden in County Dublin.
It was was half covered in the false widow's silk, and the spider was seemingly feeding on it.
Rob Gandola, of the Herpetological Society of Ireland, said people should contact the group if they come across lizard carcasses.
How To Watch The Spider-Man Movies In Order
Oh what a tangled web we weave when the multiverse becomes part of Spider-Man canon. The Spider-Man film franchise started simply enough, with 2002's "Spider-Man." Fast forward 20 years and three different actors have played live-action versions of the Wall Crawler, with the trio joining forces in 2021's "Spider-Man: No Way Home."
The most recent Spidey flick wasn't just a fun family reunion. It also led to Marvel verifying the existence of the multiverse in its live-action productions. As the former Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange says in the film, "The multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little."
While the establishment of the multiverse has a still yet-to-be-determined impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in the present it can make watching Spider-Man movies in order a little complicated.
Thankfully, there are a myriad of ways to enjoy your friendly neighborhood Spider-Men. Below is a list of the Web Head's appearances in films in release order. If you're looking to dip your toes into the multiverse, you'll also find several options to watch the different Spidey films in chronological order as well.
Spider-Man Movies in Release Order
Sony Pictures Director Sam Raimi helmed Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man in three Sony-produced films. This was followed by Andrew Garfield donning the familiar red and blue tights in two more Sony productions. The third live-action Spider-Man, Tom Holland, would first appear in the Disney-released "Captain America: Civil War," after Marvel Studios reached a deal with Sony to share the character.
While Spidey isn't mentioned in the first "Venom" film, he does appear in a post-credits scene in "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," which could be a possible teaser to the two comic book rivals/reluctant teammates' futures and brings Venom into the MCU. And even though it doesn't feature a live-action Wall Crawler, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is also included in this list because it's not only an amazing film but brilliantly explores the multiverse that will come to have a major impact on the Spidey franchise.
Its sequel, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" furthers this multiverse idea and is soon streaming on Netflix.
So if you're looking to watch the "Spider-Man" movies in order of release, here's your lineup:
Sony Pictures If you're looking to really get to know Spider-Man, the best place to start is at the beginning. And since Tobey Maguire establishes himself as the oldest of the three Spider-Men in "No Way Home," it makes sense to start with his films if you're looking to fully appreciate the Spider-Man timeline. The Maguire-led films not only tell Spidey's origin story, but over time introduce characters integral to Peter Parker's life. Although we'll see Aunt May, Uncle Ben, Mary Jane Watson, Flash Thompson and Gwen Stacy in different forms in later films, the Sam Raimi-directed versions most closely mirror their comic book counterparts.
Sony Pictures The appropriately named Marc Webb directed two Spider-Man films starring Andrew Garfield that rebooted the franchise. They provided audiences with a more upbeat, romantic and emotionally attuned version of Spidey and introduced a slew of characters from the comics. Classic villains The Lizard, Electro, Rhino, and a new Green Goblin all challenge the Wall Crawler. Viewers also get the first onscreen appearance of Peter's father, Richard Parker, and watch the romance with Gwen Stacy conclude in heartbreak, which receives an important callback in "Spider-Man: No Way Home."
And while further sequels and even a "Sinister Six" movie were planned, this run of the franchise was ended abruptly after the performance and critical reception to "The Amazing Spider-Man 2."
Sony Pictures While the Tom Holland version of Spider-Man is first introduced in "Captain America: Civil War," the three Jon Watts-directed Spidey films provide the most in-depth look at the character. Arguably the most earnest, humorous and fun version of the Web-Slinger, the Watts movies not only tie Spider-Man's world to the larger events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also bridge the gap between the three distinct eras of Spidey films via "No Way Home."
Tom Holland's Spider-Man trades barbs and blows with villains The Vulture, Shocker, and Mysterio in two films before teaming up with Garfield (Peter 3) and Maguire (Peter 2) to take on Doctor Octopus, Electro, Green Goblin, Sandman, and Lizard in "No Way Home."
The most recent Spider-Man films reimagine Mary Jane Watson and Aunt May in pivotal roles and introduces Peter's best friend, Ned, a character created specifically for the new franchise that's an amalgamation of different characters from the Spider-Man comics.
Dakota Johnson in "Madame Web" (Sony Pictures) Not really. While Sony's "Madame Web" is based on a comics character that appeared in "Spider-Man" comics, the Dakota Johnson film does not feature Spider-Man and only has the slightest of Easter eggs pointing towards the existence of Peter Parker — Adam Scott plays Uncle Ben, and Peter Parker's mom is pregnant in the film, but the movie never specifies what universe this takes place in.
So the real answer is no. "Madame Web" is a film made by Sony meant to drift off the goodwill of the Tom Holland movies, but it was soundly rejected by critics and audiences alike. You can skip this one, but if you really want to watch it it's currently playing in theaters and available on Digital.
Is It Better to Watch the Spider-Man Movies in Chronological Order or Release Order?
Sony Pictures Watching Spider-Man movies is like eating a Reese's, there's no wrong way to do it. That said, if you're new to Peter Parker's heroics, watching the films in release order is a good way to go. Starting with 2002's "Spider-Man" and working all the way through to 2021's "No Way Home" will connect all the hero's significant plot points and shows the intricate evolution of the character.
However, viewing the Spider-Man films in chronological order is certainly a great option as well, particularly because it allows you to break up Peter Parker's world into manageable chunks. Watching a batch of two to six films with each of the different leads to get your Spidey fix is a lot less intimidating than taking on 14 films featuring Spider-Man over 20 years.
Where Are the Spider-Man Movies Streaming?
Sony Pictures You won't find all of these Spider-Man movies on Disney+ (sorry), but as of right now here's where each one is streaming:
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