Phalangium opilio

Phalangium opilio is "the most widespread species of harvestman in the world", occurring natively in Europe, and much of Asia. The species has been introduced to North America, North Africa and New Zealand.[1] It is found in a wide range of habitats, including meadows, bogs, forests, and various types of anthropogenic habitats, such as gardens, fields, hedgerows, lawns, quarries, green places in built-up areas, walls and bridges.[1]

Phalangium opilio
Male Phalangium opilio
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
P. opilio
Binomial name
Phalangium opilio

Description

Females have a body length of 6–9 mm (1438 in), males are slightly smaller at 4–7 mm (31614 in). Males however have longer legs; the second leg is about 54 mm (2 14 in) in males and 38 mm (1 12 in) in females. Males and females are similarly coloured and marked, although males' markings tend to be less clear. The body has a three-lobed darker "saddle", usually with spots or dashes in the midline. Mitopus morio has a very similar appearance, but P. opilio can be distinguished by the two pale "denticles" (small teeth-like structures) below the anterior margin of the carapace. Males have long forward-pointing "horns" on the second segment of their chelicerae.[2]

gollark: I think it was stupid for other reasons myself.
gollark: I wonder why.
gollark: This month it's just raise three adults.
gollark: Would wingless lindwyrms not be ampipthetres or whatever?
gollark: ·

References

  1. Tone Novak; Vesna Klokočovnik; Saša Lip ovšek Delakorda; Dušan Devetak; Franc Janželpvoč (2009). "Preferences for different substrates in Phalangium opilio (Opiliones: Phalangiidae) in natural environment" (PDF). Acta Biologica Slovenica. 52 (1): 29–35.
  2. Jones, Dick (1983), The Countrylife Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe, Feltham, England: Country Life Books (Hamlyn), p. 310, ISBN 978-0-600-35665-3
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.