The sand bull, also known as the ground bull, has a unique way of walking. Instead of moving forward, it walks by moving backward. The sand bull may appear to have large pincers, but it does not bite people. It simply loves to hide in the sand, which is why many children enjoy playing with it.
The sand bull creates a funnel-shaped spiral in the sand, which becomes a trap for many small insects that accidentally fall into it.
The sand bull has a pair of powerful mandibles that protrude forward from its head, resembling deer antlers. These sharp and curved hollow tube-like mouthparts are made up of the upper and lower jaws.
The sand bull rotates and burrows into the sand, using its abdomen as a plow and its head to bear the weight of the loosened particles, which it throws out of the pit. It constructs a funnel-shaped pit (2.5-5 cm deep, with a mouth 2.5-7.5 cm wide) and hides beneath the sand at the bottom of the funnel. It uses its mandibles to flick the sand outward, creating a smooth and steep slope around the funnel.
When ants or small insects enter the trap, they slide down due to the loose sand. The sand bull continuously flicks sand outward, causing the prey to be pushed into the center of the quicksand. The sand bull then uses its mandibles to clamp onto the prey, injects digestive fluid, sucks it dry, and throws it out of the trap. It then reorganizes the trap and waits for the next feast.
However, not all sand bulls build traps to catch prey. Some camouflage themselves to blend in with the surrounding environment and wait for their prey. Sand bulls do not defecate as they do not have an anus, which solves their hygiene issues in the sand trap.
The sand bull is not only a plaything; it is also widely used in medicine. It has a spicy taste and a neutral nature. It has the effects of calming the liver and extinguishing wind, reducing fever and relieving spasms, detoxifying and eliminating decay, and reducing swelling. It is commonly used to treat high fever, convulsions, malaria, urinary tract infections, and bone fractures in children. It is also widely used externally to treat otitis media, boils, and unknown swellings. Its applications are extensive.
