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Opiliones

Photo by ChunXingWong
Published on Project Noah
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6.00964, 116.541

Field Notes

Description:

Again with the 7 legs.
Most of the harvestmen that I have spotted here in Sabah have only 7 legs.
This Sclerosomatidae harvestman is a new spotting for me.
The body length is between 5mm and 10mm.
Seems like its body is specially coloured for camouflaging on the forest floor that is filled with dried vegetation and decaying matters.
This harvestman species likes to keep its body low unlike most of the "outdoor" harvestman species I have seen.

Habitat:

Forest of Kinabalu National Park, Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia.

Notes:

Another unique species that is endemic to Kinabalu park because I have not seen them elsewhere.
Evolution has brought this species to look like something from the Jurassic age in this modern day.
Photography isn't so difficult for this one as it does not move when I photograph it. Fun facts: The species around Mount Kinabalu are older than the lowland species, maybe that explains why this harvestman looks ancient.
>>>Map accuracy : 500m diameter.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (13)
ChunXingWong
Another harvestman spotting that is similar to this http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/10682250
ChunXingWong
The ones in Kinabalu Park are quite safe because they are protected by the park's wildlife regulation. Heavy penalty will be given to those who harm or disturb live or dead organisms here. They are not affected by human harmful activities in the park, but human activities outside the park which cause environmental changes can still affect them. Stopping global warming will definitely be the best Christmas present for these wonderful creatures.
Leuba Ridgway
It is a fantastic creature. I hope they are not affected by human activity and continue to thrive. Thanks for bringing this to us...
Mark Ridgway
Excellent info thanks CXW. Exploring youtube and wiki was very worthwhile. Truly fascinating life forms.
ChunXingWong
Thanks everyone for your comments. Yes KarenL, harvestmen are indeed prehistoric. They have older fossil records than spiders, oldest fossil being 400 million years old - that is among the earliest land arthropods.
KarenL
Almost prehistoric looking!
Mark Ridgway
What an interesting creature - never seen this before. I would love to see one in action... over to youtube then...
ChunXingWong
Just the opposite, Sci-Fi movie characters are inspired from real creatures like this in the nature.

Spotted for Missions

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2012 Best Wildlife Photo
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Arthropods Below The Wind - Sabah

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Photographed
PublishedNovember 24, 2011

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