New Daddy Longlegs Species Named Cryptomaster Behemoth
Posted on January 31, 2016
A new species of harvestman (or daddy longlegs) species has been discovered in the mountains of Southwest Oregon. The arachnid has been named Cryptomaster behemoth.
The species was discovered by researchers from the University of California Riverside and the San Diego State University. They were led by Dr. James Starrett. C. behemoth was given the name because of its large size (about 4 mm) compared to its relatives within the family of travunioid daddy longlegs. They belong to the large harvestman suborder, the Laniatores. The Laniatores are known for having short legs and hiding under logs, stones and leaf litter.
C. Behemoth also has a close relative, Cryptomaster Leviathan, that was discovered in Oregon in 1969. As the name implies the researchers say the Cryptomaster daddy longlegs are "notoriously difficult to find." An image of C. leviathan is pictured below.
A research paper on the new harvestman was published here in the journal, Zookeys.
Here's a video from the Hedin lab about the new harvestman species.
Image: Dr. James Starrett
