Dicranopalpus ramosus species account

Dicranopalpus ramosus Dicranopalpus ramosus is a quite long legged species, with especially the second pair reaching up to 5 cm, stretched out sideways in a peculiar manner when resting. The bodies of the males has a length of up to 4 mm long and females up to 6 mm. The patellae of the pedipalpi carry a distinct elongated apophysis that reaches almost to the end of the tibia. This makes the pedipalpi look forked. Their body is brownish with dark markings, the females being lighter colored.

Dicranopalpus ramosus is a relatively new species of harvestman for Britain. Adults can be found from August to November, mostly in gardens and on outer walls, but sometimes also inside. The traditional method of collecting invertebrates does not prove adequate: of 103 individuals captured in Belgium, only one was found in a pitfall; all others were collected by hand.

Dicranopalpus ramosus @NBN: Taxonomy; Grid map; Interactive map;

The systematic place of this species seems to be somewhat 'open for discussion'. Here we place it in the "subfamily" Dicranopalpinae, which is represented in Britain by just the one species.

The species Dicranopalpus ramosus is also often placed in the subfamily Gyantinae within either the family Leiobunidae, or the Sclerosomatidae if either one is recognized as separate from the Phalangiidae and suggests a close relation to Leiobunum and Nelima. The latest trend however seems to be to assign them to their own subfamily Dicranopalpinae, which is subsequently placed in the family Phalangiidae (sic?!), suggesting less of such a relationship.

Whichever 'system' may prevail, the forked pedipalps and the resting posture, with the legs stretched to the sides, makes this species easy to identify:

Males and females can be easily told apart by the habitus, size, colouration and shape of the apophysis on the pedipalp:

• • Body size & habitus: Females larger, especially the abdomen extending further towards the rear and notably higher, almost suggesting a ridge dorsally.

  • Couloration: Females generally more greyish overall, males more orangy brown. Females usually carrying a black transverse band over the abdomen, males usually over the eyes (hence nicknamed "Zorro"

  • ), but the dark band can also extend over much of the head ("Darth vader"?).

  • Apophysis on pedipalp: Females: Broader and bluntly rounded at the tip and "hairy" overall. Males: Finer and pointed at the tip, covered with tiny denticles rather than hairy.

Images

Males

This is an extremely rare find for me, i dont recall ever seeing one of these(males), and in my garden too, and also were nearly into December.