Paroligolophus agrestis

Paroligolophus agrestis
P. agrestis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Opiliones
Suborder:	Eupnoi
Superfamily:	Phalangioidea
Family:	Phalangiidae
Subfamily:	Oligolophinae
Genus:	Paroligolophus
Species:	P. agrestis
Binomial name
Paroligolophus agrestis (Meade, 1855)
Synonyms
Opilio agrestis Oligolophus ephippiger

Paroligolophus agrestis is a species of harvestman. It occurs in Europe, including the United Kingdom.

Mature females have bodies about 6 mm long, mature males are smaller at about 4 mm. As with almost all havestmen, the second leg is longest, being around 14–20 mm when fully extended. The patellae and tibiae have distinct angles rather than being rounded. The upper surface of the body is usually brown with grey and red shades, with a line of whitish markings along the centre. The tendency to red is regarded as a useful identification character. There may be darker markings at the rear with lighter lines across the body. The area between the eyes is notably light in colour. On the underside, the genital plate is notched, particularly in the female – a distinctive feature of this species.^[1][2]

References

1. Jones, Dick (1983), The Country Life Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe, Feltham, Middlesex: Country Life Books, ISBN 978-0-600-35665-3, p. 308
2. Spears, Gordon, Opiliones in the UK and Continental Europe, retrieved 2013-09-15