What's in a Name?

This is a short legged harvestman, a member of the Triaenonychidae Family, and a native of New Zealand. It is an Arachnid, but NOT a spider. It's just under 1cm long. If you are wondering why a creature with such long legs would be called "short legged," it's to distinguish it from the native long legged harvestman, which has fantastically long skinny legs like bent horsehair.

These harvestmen are a rare sight in my garden. I more often see the European harvestmen. Although this one was sitting on a Calendula leaf they are normally on the ground.  There were several fragments of brown leaf litter around it. Apparently they wear the litter as camouflage. Note the pair of eyes on the tiny peak in front.

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