Long legged friend

[Incy wincey]

I saw this little friend on a wall at work - what I was surprised that its legs were so long and wondered how it walked because it did not look possible that it could walk as a normal spider (middle legs are longer than all the rest). I then took a closer look and its 'feelers' looked like little crab claws!

Short squat body, long uneven length legs with 'claws' Does anyone have any ideas on what type of spider because I have never seen one like it before!
I have taken a photo of it with my phone, but have no idea on how to load it on the site (any hints)

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

as there isn't a photo this is purly a guess but it sounds a bit like Dicranopalpus ramosus - a type of harvestman

neil

[Geoff F]

Small body and very long legs sounds like one of the Harvestmen. Technically not a spider, but very similar. Have a search in the Gallery and see if that looks correct.

To include a photo. It should be a Jpeg at least 800 pixels wide, but not too big, say somewhere between 800 and 1200 pixels at 96 pixels per inch.

Go to Gallery & Upload Photo. Follow the instructions for the Archive Gallery (the blue one). Read carefully and follow exactly. It sounds more complicated than it really is.

When you get lost, ask for more directions.

[Incy wincey]

I have managed to post a photo on the gallery called long legged friend (should be relatively close to the front) I know what a harvestman looks like (some call it a daddy longlegs) but this is nothing like it. Harvestmen seem to walk on their legs - this spider has legs of different lengths so I imagine it would be very difficult - The spider in on a white wall.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

this it ?



Yep, still say D. ramosus - a Harvestman

neil

[Venger]

Incy, there's more than one type of Harvestmen (Opiliones) in the UK, you'd be surprised (couple of dozen species - not really my field though.)

(Arp where are you? )

I'd agree with Neil, Dicranopalpus ramosus

[naturegirl]

Hi Venger, how are you?

When I had my polytunnel, every Autumn, it would be absolutely over-run with Harvestmen!

I think they were just the 'ordinary' type, reddish body and VERY long legs.

I just accepted that they appeared at that time of year never giving a thought that there were different types, sorry!

Naturegirl

[Pudding4brains]

Originally Posted by Venger

(Arp where are you? )

Even if I should stress that I'm no Harvestman expert (by a long shot), I was also totally not 'needed' here as Neil had the exact same idea I had from the very start

Of course it is Dicranopalpus ramosus and from the looks of it I'd guesstimate a male.

@Incy: The forked pedipalps are a unique trademark of this species (in Britain that is) and the fork is immobile, hence not really a 'claw'. I agree that they look rather weird with the long and short legs (the longest second pair of legs double as sensory organs), but indeed mostly all Harvestmen are build like this - and they all 'walk' amazingly well as the legs are pulled in and 'hooped' when moving It's just that this species has a knack of stretching out it's legs flat on the surface it's on and mostly sideways, so the legs are also close together, so it makes the differences in length all the more apparent

Cheers, Arp

[Incy wincey]

Yup that was the right photo! I'm really chuffed I've seen this little one , never seen one like it before I've only ever seen the round pin bodied ones and not the flat, scalloped edged ones and as for the pedipalps they are really cool but serve what purpose if immobile? The main thing that attracted me to this little thing was that I was amazed on how it would walk as the legs seemed impossible to use being all different lengths did not thing it would 'curl' its legs underneath!

Thank you all for your time in responding to my posting I'm going to keep an eye out now to see (less opportunity now I suppose Autumn is upon us) how many other types I can find (I dont mind spiders - its the earwigs I'm frightened of! - but I suppose most women are frightened of creepy crawlies of one sort or another.

[Geoff F]

There is still plenty of time to see Harvestmen. Many of them prefer cooler damp conditions. There are around 30 commonly seen species to look for.

For more information on life cycle and identification of harvestmen, I recommend a read of Action Man's article • View topic - British Harvestmen

It is a bit technical in places and a few of the names have changed since this was written but I found it most illuminating and very helpful

[Pudding4brains]

Originally Posted by Incy wincey

Yup that was the right photo! I'm really chuffed I've seen this little one , never seen one like it before

This species has only been colonizing Britain for a few decades now, so it's relatively "new"

did not thing it would 'curl' its legs underneath!

Well, it's not really 'underneath'. Here are a few different poses:


About the "why" of the forked pedipalps I'll have to throw the towel. Most Harvesters have some form of tubercles or thorns or the other (convenient for identification too) and I've always assumed these would have something to do with having a better grip/hold on food things (and that the fork in D.r. is just an extreme 'tubercle'), but come to think of it I actually really don't know this - just always assumed ...

Cheers, Arp

[oxycera]

Found my first D.ramosus today in Hugset Wood, nr.Barnsley, whilst sweeping for fungus-gnats. I thought it looked a bit odd, then remembered an earlier thread about this species on WAB, so thanks WABBERS, for that.