edHelper.com
 Camel Spiders

Camel Spiders

A Short Reader

Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 3 to 5
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   3.81

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    arthropod, scorpion, common, mainly, deserts, sticking, poisonous, powerful, nocturnal, liquid, giant, northern, inch, painful, sting, spin
     content words:    Middle East

Print Camel Spiders
     Print Camel Spiders  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)

Quickly Print - PDF format
     Quickly Print: PDF (2 columns per page)
     Quickly Print: PDF (full page)

Quickly Print - HTML format
     Quickly Print: HTML

Proofreading Activity
     Print a proofreading activity

Feedback on Camel Spiders
     Leave your feedback on Camel Spiders  (use this link if you found an error in the story)

Camel Spiders
By Sheri Skelton 		  
1     Camel spider is the common name for a solpugid. It isn't really a spider. It's an arthropod. It's related to a scorpion, but it doesn't sting. Camel spiders are also called sun spiders, sun scorpions, and wind scorpions.
 
2     Camel spiders have four pairs of legs. They use only six of their legs for running. They can run very fast. Camel spiders also have what look like two more legs sticking out in front. These extra "legs" are long and sturdy. They are called pedipalps or palps. The camel spider uses its palps like feelers to notice what's going on in front of it. Sometimes it uses the palps to catch its prey.
 
3     Camel spiders live in warm, dry places. They inhabit deserts all over the world. Camel spiders do not spin webs. These spiders are mainly nocturnal carnivores. This means they hunt for meat at night. Camel spiders eat insects, rodents, lizards, and small birds. The spiders have very strong jaws. They grab their prey. Then they use their powerful jaws to crush the prey and chop it up. They use special fluids to make the food softer and more liquid. This makes it easier for the spiders to eat their victims.

Paragraphs 4 to 5:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable
Copyright © 2009 edHelper