Basic Information

Subphylum: Chelicerata Class: Arachnida Order: Amblypygi Body Length: 5mm-5cm Leg Length: 2-5 times body length Amblypygi are found in Africa, North America, South America, and Southeast Asia, but not in Japan, so they may not be familiar to Japanese people. As mentioned earlier, Amblypygi is one of the insects known as the "three great strange insects of the world" with a very impactful appearance, often considered the "world's most disgusting insect." If Amblypygi could understand words, they would be quite shocked by this description. What do Amblypygi look like? Amblypygi have a flattened body, as if squashed from above. Their body is small, but their legs are 2-5 times the body length. They have notably large, thick, and scythe-like pedipalps, which are sensory organs. These pedipalps have joints like elbows and are usually bent, making them look like arms. Next to these pedipalps are extremely long, whip-like first legs. These long legs are also used as sensory organs and are not used for walking. The combination of large, thick pedipalps and one extremely long leg creates the strange and impactful appearance of Amblypygi. They have eight eyes, which is quite a lot. However, their vision is not very good, and some species cannot see at all. Instead, they use their pedipalps and long legs as sensory organs to perceive their surroundings. They have fangs near their mouth but cannot produce silk like spiders. Despite their impactful appearance and being considered the world's most disgusting insect, Amblypygi are not venomous. They look like they might be poisonous, but they are actually very gentle insects. There are not many differences between males and females. In some species, males have longer pedipalps.