Order Thelyphonida

Like their relatives the tail-less whip scorpions, the vinegaroons use six legs for walking, with the first pair of legs often elongated and used as antennae. The name vinegaroon stems from their ability to spray a mixture of acetic acid and caprylic acid from the tip of a whip-like flagellum at the end of their abdomen. They can bend this forwards and squirt the acid mixture into the face of an attacker.

There are around 100 thelyphonids and they have a curious distribution. They are none in Australia and Europe and there is one species in West Africa. Currently all vinegaroons are classified in the family Thelyphonidae.

Reproduction is very similar to that of the scorpions. Males produce a spermatophore which they maneuver the female over. After the eggs are fertilized, the female lays them in a membranous sac which she keeps attached to the underside of her abdomen. The eggs develop into post embryos. At an appropriate time the youngsters hatch from the post embryos and climb onto the mother's back. Here they attach themselves with a special sucker and remain there until their first molt at which point they leave the natal burrow and take up an independent existence. I love the idea of a special sucker to attach to their mother's back - how cool is that?

The only photos below are of a vinegaroon I photographed on Rao Island, Morotai, Indonesia. This species is atypical because of the monstrously developed pedipapls which make it look like "Popeye".

Thelyphonid - "Popeye" vinegaroon or whip scorpion

Vinegaroon, Rao Island, Morotai, Indonesia IMG_7573