Another Leggy Model ...

jezlee · #1 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 02:38 PM

I posted a Harvestman last week (http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...ed-thingy.html) and the consensus seemed to be Leiobunum rotundum ... is this the other one mentioned (Phalangium opilio), or just a different coloured/marked version of L.rotundum?

naturelover · #2 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 02:46 PM

Hi jezz thats a funny looking critter you got there,cant say i have seen one of them befor.

jezlee · #3 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 03:03 PM

Hi, Naturelover! Yes, they are weird looking creatures, aren't they? Especially their two little eyes perched upon that turret on their heads ...

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 03:06 PM

Neither are Leiobunum rotundum.

This is Leiobunum rotundum
http://www.bioimages.org.uk/html/P6/P60898.php

You can see the distinctive black around the eyes, also the body texture and shape.

jezlee · #5 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Neither are Leiobunum rotundum.

This is Leiobunum rotundum
http://www.bioimages.org.uk/html/P6/P60898.php

You can see the distinctive black around the eyes, also the body texture and shape.

Thanks for that, Dogghound ... so any ideas on what they are?

Just done some research on t'Internet and found one called Opilio ravanea which looks mighty similar to my second one ...

Venger · #6 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 04:19 PM

Looks very similar to Opilio canestrinii, though I'm not sure if this is even in the UK - Opiliones aren't really my area, so thats a wild guess

jezlee · #7 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venger

Looks very similar to Opilio canestrinii, though I'm not sure if this is even in the UK - Opiliones aren't really my area, so thats a wild guess

Hi there, Venger! Thanks for the input ... what I need is a really good reference book ...

Pudding4brains · #8 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 05:21 PM

I'm with Venger on a likely O. canestrinii for the one in this thread (although quick to point out I don't really know the harvestmen well enough yet), and I would very much like to urge Dogghound to have a good look at Leiobunum females for comparison, as opposed to the male one he is linking to.

Dogghound · #9 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudding4brains

I'm with Venger on a likely O. canestrinii for the one in this thread (although quick to point out I don't really know the harvestmen well enough yet), and I would very much like to urge Dogghound to have a good look at Leiobunum females for comparison, as opposed to the male one he is linking to.

I happy to learn pudding. So the two are shaped different? opilliones not a strong point of mine. Any other differences between the two?

Pudding4brains · #10 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

I happy to learn pudding. So the two are shaped different?

Yes, I only learned that a few weeks ago too

- especially with these Leiobunum it's quite extreme. In this image (from this site) you'll see male and female side by side (both somehow fairly young/fresh it seems?)

Quote:

opilliones not a strong point of mine. Any other differences between the two?

Me neither ... got to go now. Meaning Male/Female? Or the species discussed?
Arp

Pudding4brains · #11 (**permalink**) 30-01-2008, 01:26 AM

As Jezlee asked for Phalangium opilio a few times and Dogghound was interested in differences I cooked up this:

Females left, males right. Top to bottom: Phalangium opilio, Opilio canestrinii, Leiobunum rotundum.

Note the huge chelicerae on the P. opilio male and the extreme difference in body shape and colour between male and female L. rotundum. O. canestrinii is quite variable in colour, both of the body and legs, but typically has some reddish hues, quite light orangy trochanter (where the legs meet the body) and darkish legs (although also frequently with lighter somewhat banded legs).

Useful details (for ID) to get on your photos would be the ocularium (the eyes-hill - colour and thorns/teeth) and the chelicerae/pedipalps and of course a jizz shot showing the total length of the legs. Of the species depicted here Leiobunum has the longest legs, canestrinii not much shorter and Phalangium the shortest, but still fairly long (many species have shorter legs still). Bodyshape can vary quite drastically depending on how well-fed the animal is and/or how "packed with eggs". Compare this P. opilio girly with the one top left in the other picture:

All the is to be "consumed" in the knowledge that he who writes it knows very little about Harvestmen and can only ID a handful of species on a lucky day ... (use with caution!)

Cheers
Arp

P.S. @No.9 Spider: The site I linked previously (this one) has some penis-shots too (also used frequently for ID). Bizarre creatures

Venger · #12 (**permalink**) 30-01-2008, 02:50 AM

Your last link takes you to a below shot of a female spider - so something went wrong with that link...
It's a very good site, I like it, very useful for ID'ing when used with key guides (I'm sure theres a link to a key guide on that site somewhere)

jezlee · #13 (**permalink**) 30-01-2008, 09:00 AM

Many thanks for your post, P4B ... most enlightening! I think I am going to have to keep a look out for Harvestmen this year and see if I can get some more pics for identification species ...

Pudding4brains · #14 (**permalink**) 30-01-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venger

Your last link takes you to a below shot of a female spider - so something went wrong with that link...

Yes, my bad, the site was unresponsive yesterday, so I didn't check the link (and didn't notice I made a dumb mistake). Should have been linking to Opilio parietinus and was aiming for this hardcore shot

@Venger: I don't do a lot with Arachnida yet, so I haven't turned the site upside down, I only go there to find images for comparison (through the genus selection top left) ... the only "key" I'm aware of is on this site??

No.9 Spider · #15 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 05:40 PM

I couldn't hazard a guess on these. I used to collect them on spider field trips but gave up as their legs get tangled with one another. There are probably newer I.D. guides about than the one I have which will be outdated now, it's British Harvestmen by Sankey and Savory 1974!
I remember when working behind the scenes at Manchester Museum, I found a beautiful and small cabinet about 12 inches in height by about 8 inches wide and deep. It had about 20 or so beautifully made wooden fronted slide drawers and a glass in wood surround opening front. The cabinet was full of slides, every one containing a section of an Opilione species penis. It doesn't get much more bizarre than that. Anyone here collect them!

No.9 Spider