Vinegaroon — printable fact sheet
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Vinegaroon
Mastigoproctus giganteus
The vinegaroon or whip scorpion (order Thelyphonida, and in North America the giant Mastigoproctus giganteus) looks like a nightmare and is close to harmless. It has no venom at all, and the long thread trailing from the end of its abdomen, which people take for a sting, is a fl…
Did you know?
- The acetic acid spray that gives the vinegaroon its name can be detected by humans from several feet away!
- The whip on its tail is not a sting; it is a sensory organ, and the animal has no venom whatsoever. It defends itself by spraying concentrated acetic acid, which is why it smells exactly like vinegar. The spray also includes a fatty acid that dissolves an insect's waterproof coating so the acid can get through, effectively a two-part chemical weapon. The mother stops eating while carrying her eggs and her young, and typically dies not long after they disperse.
What I learned
Draw the vinegaroon
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