Solifugid question

[nessa]

I recently bought a camel spider, a "galeodes arabicus". Underneath its belly, small silver scales have formed.Also, as indicated by the picture, its black. But ours is started to get a little white around where the head and belly meet. Does anyone know why? Thanks in advance.

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/attachment.php?attachmentid=61641&stc=1&d=1177386086

[cacoseraph]

i tink you are talking about mallet organs, or something like that. those should be the scales on the underside

[Widowman10]

yeah, i've seen the "mallet organs" many times on mine. do you know what they are used for?? i did research but all i came up with is: we don't know:wall: their only guess was mating?? but when i mated mine, i couldn't see how they were used or being generally helpful in any way... any thoughts cacoseraph?? and any pics nessa?? oh, and nice solpugid by the way:clap:

[Widowman10]

looks a little skinny though...:D maybe mine was just a fatty because it was an eating machine...{D

[Tarantula_Hawk]

i've read they are used as sensory organs for vibrations etc... i read if from Punzo's book i think..

[Widowman10]

i've read they are used as sensory organs for vibrations etc... i read if from Punzo's book i think..

well why wouldn't they just use the little hairs/spines covering their legs and cephalothorax to sense vibrations? like all the other spiders? i'm not saying you're wrong or anything, just trying to figure this out logically:) i'm kinda lost.
punzo's book? where do you find that? online? or in libraries? i think i would like to get it and read it...;)

[KUJordan]

Yes, the "mushroom" or "mallet" organs are specialized sensory organs that are unique to camel spiders. I think they are restricted to use only for vibrational location and not for chemosensory location as are the trichobothria on the rest of the body...

[nessa]

the reason why im asking is because the scales werent there before. also in between his body and head, its no longer black but getting a little white... could it possibly be molting or am i not taking proper care of it?

[Widowman10]

my guess, emphasis on the "my guess" part is, that if you say they weren't there before and it's turning a white-ish color, that it is approaching a molt. since the mallet organs are sensory organs, maybe it is now developing them. just my guess, i think that makes sense though... feel free to correct me anyone.

[Tarantula_Hawk]

well why wouldn't they just use the little hairs/spines covering their legs and cephalothorax to sense vibrations? like all the other spiders? i'm not saying you're wrong or anything, just trying to figure this out logically:) i'm kinda lost.
punzo's book? where do you find that? online? or in libraries? i think i would like to get it and read it...;)

well since camel spiders are not spiders and belong to a totally different family, they dont have only hairs for vibrations but they also have these organs.. punzo's book i bought it online