Uropygid

(plural Uropygi, also known as Thelyphonida)

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A uropygid, commonly known as a "whip scorpion", "vinegarone", or "vinegaroon", is an invertebrate animal belonging to the order Uropygi in the class Arachnida, in the subphylum Chelicerata of the phylum Arthropoda.

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The name "uropygid" means "tail rump", referring to the whip-like telson on the end of the pygidium, a small plate made up of the last three segments of the abdominal exoskeleton.

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Whip scorpions range from 25 to 70mm in length; the largest species, Magistoproctus, can reach 85mm.

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Like the related orders Schizomida, Amblypygi, and Solpugida, the uropygids use only six legs for walking, having modified their first two legs to serve as antennae-like sensory organs. Many species also have very large scorpion-like pedipalps (pincers). They have one pair of eyes at the front of the cephalothorax and three on each side of the head. Whip scorpions have no poison glands, but they do have glands near the rear of their abdomen that can spray a combination of formic and acetic acid when they are bothered. The acetic acid gives this spray a vinegar-like smell, giving rise to the common name "vinegarone".

Arachnida: redirect Arachnid...

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Telson: The telson is the last division of the body of a crustacean. It is not considered a true segment because it never carries any appendages. Together with the uropods, it forms the "tail fan" of lobsters, shrimp and other decapods. These are used as a paddle in the "caridoid escape reaction" (lobsterin...