Harvestmen (Opiliones)

arachnids · long-legged · creepy-crawlies · tiny hunters

Ridiculously long legs. Harvestmen have legs so long and thin that they look like they're balancing on toothpicks. Their body is tiny compared to their legs, which help them sense their surroundings and move quickly through grass and soil.

Found everywhere on Earth. Over 6,650 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide, and scientists think there may be 10,000 or more species still waiting to be found. They live on every continent except Antarctica.

Not true spiders. Even though harvestmen look like spiders, they're actually different arachnids with their own special order called Opiliones. They don't make webs and many can eat plants, unlike hunting spiders.

Five different groups. Harvestmen are divided into five suborders based on how they look and live: Cyphophthalmi, Eupnoi, Dyspnoi, Laniatores, and Tetrophthalmi. Scientists finalized these groups in 2014.

Protective scent makers. Many harvestmen have glands that release a stinky or poisonous smell to protect themselves from predators. This defensive smell is one of their coolest tricks for survival.