A creature that roamed the Earth 416 million years ago still exists today, moving sideways and lacking a tail (photo).

The history of Earth spans over 4.5 billion years and is home to an incredible number of species: some of them have long gone extinct, while others continue to thrive today. One of the latter is the tailless whip scorpion—more than 200 species of these creatures are known, but only a few have survived to the present day, as reported by IFLScience.

Tailless whip scorpions, also known as amblypygids, belong to the order Amblypygi and are not actually spiders or scorpions—they are classified as arachnids within the class Arachnida. Members of this class represent an ancient order and are believed by scientists to have roamed the Earth since the Devonian period, approximately 416 million years ago. However, researchers acknowledge that not all of the more than 200 species have survived to this day.

Members of this species are often confused with vinegaroons and whip scorpions, which belong to the order Uropygi. Unlike other arachnids, tailless whip scorpions possess only six legs for walking and can move sideways like crabs.

The other two front legs are elongated and eventually resemble antennas, serving as complex sensory structures. Observations show that this pair of legs can be two and a half times longer than the other legs, which is why they are sometimes referred to as "whips." Scientists have discovered that arachnids use them to sense their environment and detect vibrations from prey—this is particularly important since most species of tailless whip scorpions have poor eyesight or are nearly blind. Tailless whip scorpions also have spiny pedipalps that they use to capture food.

Where Tailless Whip Scorpions Live

Research indicates that members of this species are widely distributed across North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Their flat bodies allow them to crawl into crevices and under rocks during the day and then emerge at night to hunt.

What Tailless Whip Scorpions Eat

Scientists have found that the jaws of these arachnids are quite strong, but they do not produce venom, making them harmless to humans—this is why they are often kept as pets. Tailless whip scorpions typically feed on large insects, worms, crustaceans, and occasionally small vertebrates. They can also engage in fierce territorial battles, where the winner may consume the loser.

How Tailless Whip Scorpions Reproduce

Courtship between males and females begins with a slow dance that can last several hours. Then, males deposit a capsule full of sperm on the ground, while females can lay up to 60 eggs and may even carry their offspring for several days after they hatch.

Researchers also believe that in the wild, the lifespan of these creatures ranges from 5 to 10 years, though there are known cases of arachnids living significantly longer in captivity.