Metaphalangium cirtanum

Metaphalangium cirtanum

''Metaphalangium cirtanum'' is a species of harvestman belonging to the family Phalangiidae.
harvestman  Geotagged,Italy,Metaphalangium cirtanum,Spring

Appearance

''Metaphalangium cirtanum'' can reach approximately a body length of 4.5–9 millimetres in both sexes. These quite common harvestmen present some degree of polymorphism. The basic coloration is reddish brown. They usually show a dark brown saddle-shaped marking broadened angularly in the middle of the abdomen. The saddle-shaped marking is partially outlined in white. A white longitudinal band runs from eye-mound to anus. Cephalothorax is denticulate anterior to the eyes, tergites have transversal rows of denticles. On the front body there is a small black thorns. Pedipalps are rather strong and short. Legs are long and strong and femur usually has strong denticles. Chelicerae of males are usually more developed than those of females. Furthermore, in males legs I are greatly thickened.

Distribution

This species has a circum-Mediterranean distribution. It is present in Albania, Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia, Spain and Tunisia.

Behavior

Adults can be found from June to August.

Habitat

This species mainly inhabits sunny wasteland and rocky grassland.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassArachnida
OrderOpiliones
FamilyPhalangiidae
GenusMetaphalangium
SpeciesM. cirtanum
Photographed in
Italy