Aperture on Life

By SheenaghMclaren

Harvestman

Eight legs and crawls around at high speed, it must be a spider. No, not at all!

Harvestmen or Daddy Longs Legs, are Opiliones which are more closely related to Scorpions or Mites. Although in broader terms they come under the order of arachnids, they have no silk glands, can eat food without liquefying it, and uniquely males have a penis. This is one of the most commonly seen in the UK, Leiobunum rotundum, as it's habits aren't as nocturnal as other species. They aren't at all fussy about their food and will eat just about anything animal, vegetable or fungus.

Harvestmen's form hasn't changed since it evolved, some 410 million years ago. Three fossil specimens of Opiliones were discovered near Rhynie, in Aberdeenshire, causing quite a stir. Apart from being found to be the earliest known harvestmen in the fossil record they were also found to have the earliest known genitalia of any terrestrial animal.

So, sex was invented in Scotland!
Ok, I was dying to find one to add to Scotland's Creative Story.

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