One of the most popular urban myths to come out of the occupation of Iraq is the picture of the infamous camel spider held by US troops accompanied by various claims of its abilities. This usually takes the form of an email with said picture detailing all sorts of fantastic claims.
According to the legend they can grow to be as large as dinner plates, reach speeds up to 25 MPH, making screaming noises as they run, jump several feet in the air, they eat the stomachs of camels and lay their eggs there, hence the name "camel spider", they are venomous, and their venom contains a powerful anaesthetic that numbs their victims. U.S. soldiers were said to have been attacked by camel spiders at night but remained completely unaware of their plight until they awakened in the morning to find chunks of their flesh missing.