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Titan harvestman

Taxonomy
 

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Opiliones

Family: Sclerosomatidae

Genre: Gyas

Species: Gyas titanus

Conservation Status of the Species in Portugal and Worldwide

Portugal

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World

Features and
Habits

 

In terms of dimensions, the body length in males is 6 mm and in females 8 mm. The legs, in the case of the two largest, can reach 4 cm. This species, although an arachnid, is not a spider, but rather a harvestman. The main difference is that its body, although segmented like that of spiders, is much less so, appearing otherwise. Furthermore, they do not spin webs. Their most striking feature, besides the shape of their body, is clearly their large legs, where two of the front legs are larger than the others, which they use to detect the passage of prey. (incorrect)

This species is omnivorous, feeding mainly on small insects such as ants, but also on decaying plant matter, playing an important role in ecosystem recycling and helping to control pests. It reproduces in spring and summer. They have a courtship process where the male and female touch each other with their legs before mating. After mating, the female lays her eggs in damp soil or under debris. The species is most active at night. When threatened by predators, they release a strong-smelling liquid to ward them off. (incorrect)

Habitat and Distribution
 

It is a rare species of harvestman not resident in Portugal, but rather in the United States. And there are no records of sightings in the country. However, it prefers humid, shady habitats, such as dense forests, and is usually seen on tree trunks, leaves, and rocks. (incorrect)

Places where I have photographed this species so far.

Âncora 1

All Photographs Taken

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