Opiliones

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Macro photo of a harvestman
Macro photo of a harvestman

The Phalangids (name rarely used), or Opiliones, or Harvestmen are eight-egged invertebrates. They belong to the order Opiliones. They are Arachnids (Arachnida). As of 2005, over 6.200 different species of phalangids have been described.

Many species are omnivores, they eat anything they can find. Most of the time this is small insects, and some plants and fungi. Some are scavengers.

Phalangids are not dangerous to humans. None of the described species has poison glands. Phalangids are not spiders.

Sometimes harvestmen are called Daddy Longlegs (or Granddady longlegs). This name can also mean two other species (that are not Phalangids): the crane fly, or the house spider.

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