Who's the daddy?!

[The Black Rabbit]

Just confirmation required here please, Venger and the arachnid fans...

Took a photo of a MALE "Daddy Long Legs Spider" (Pholcus phalangioides) under our bathroom sink this morning. (Click on thumbnail and THEN the image to get 100%)
I assume this is the "Daddy" because of his enlarged, "boxing-gloves" pedipalps which he uses in breeding (to present the female sperm etc.., and wave in a semaphore manner).


Now compare it to this (admittedly, much smaller) Female, (I think), or "Mummy Long Legs Spider" without the huge pedipalps.

I took this photo a couple of months ago.

Have I got that right? Or could the second picture be an immature male who has yet to grow his boxing gloves?
Is the abdominal-shape sex specific in these spiders? Does the female DLLS have a round abdomen and the male have more of a cigar-shaped abdomen, or are the pedipalps the best way to tell, on close inspection?

Any help appreciated please...
Cheers
Doug

[Venger]

Females in general (most species) have a larger abdomen than males (they have more bits). However I've seen females with the cigar-shpaed abdomen.
I have noticed many variations in P.phalangioides abdomens, but wether that is from feeding, pregnancy or moult I don't know (as I've said before, I'm not an expert)
It's hard to say off the second picture - but I'd say that it's a she.
Immature males will still have a swollen tarsus - this one's tarsus doesn't seem modified in any way.
Of course you'd still need to check out to see if you can see the epigyne (though if it's a immature female, it might not be visable)
You may just need to see a lot closer to tell (microscope)

[The Black Rabbit]

Thanks Venger!
Much appreciated.
Microscope it is then!
Doug