Say hello to the giant whip scorpion, another of Florida’s strange creatures

Its name invokes a sense of fear and awe: the giant whip scorpion.

It has claws and a whip-like tail emerging from its midsection. It looks like a cross between a scorpion, a spider and some sort of beetle.

While it’s neither giant nor a scorpion, it is notable for its unique defense mechanism.

The giant whip scorpion can squirt acetic acid — the main ingredient in vinegar — when it feels threatened.

And when people came across a giant whip scorpion in Big Bend National Park in Prarie Junction, Texas, earlier this week, the term “acid-spitting land lobster” began trending on social media.

But it’s not necessarily unique for Floridians, who have shared territory with the elusive giant whip scorpion for eons.

The giant whip scorpion is now endangered in the wild, but has likely been in Florida for millions of years, according to Dr. William Kern, an associate professor at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.

Finding new, odd or rarely-seen creatures is all too common in the Sunshine State.

Perhaps the most shocking find this year in Florida was a new invasive species — an ugly Amazonian river monster that can grow up to 10 feet long.

So, it shouldn’t be a surprise to know there’s another unique-looking creature in Florida.

But there’s no reason to be alarmed by the giant whip scorpion — also known as a “vinegaroon” — because they are not a threat to humans or pets in general.

They are “relatively benign unless you happen to annoy them,” according to a Facebook post from Big Bend National Park.

It can cause irritation if you put your face near the creature when it sprays.

If the spray gets on skin, experts suggest washing the area with soap and water. If it gets on your hands, don’t touch your eyes without washing.

“Imagine how it feels if you accidentally get vinegar or lemon juice or grapefruit juice in your eyes,” Kern explained. “That’s sort of what it would feel like.”

Kern said giant whip scorpions can grow up to 5 centimeters long and are harmless to humans.

But their “acid-spitting” is effective as keeping natural predators, such as raccoons, opossums, armadillos and bears, at bay.

“They get too close they get a squirt of that acetic acid up their nose and they’re going to leave them alone,” Kern said.

The giant whip scorpion is not venomous. It is an arachnid, however, it’s not closely related to a spider — or a scorpion.

It has claw-like appendages that can pinch, and it uses two of its eight legs as antennae to search for food while it walks. It eats insects such as cockroaches.

Kern said that giant whip scorpions are found locally in Palm Beach County and are probably in Broward County.

Giant whip scorpions are native to Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Mexico.

Sightings are rare, though experts in Texas said “summer rains bring vinegaroons out of their burrows in search of food and love.”

They are nocturnal and are often found underneath boards or logs or by people hunting for snakes or lizards.

“It’s just a cool Florida animal that most people don’t get to see,” Kern said.

This past spring researchers at Zoo Miami discovered an entirely new species called the Pine Rockland trapdoor spider, researchers have discovered new breeds of disease-carrying mosquitoes, and voracious super termites are carving out a new existence in South Florida.

According to Frank Ridgley, head of Zoo Miami’s conservation and research department, Zoo Miami employees find some type of rare species of plant or animal about once a year.