Saddleback Harvestman
The saddleback harvestman (Mitopus morio) is a harvestman with a dark saddle-shaped patch on its back that lives across the Northern Hemisphere, including Arctic tundra and high mountains.
The saddleback harvestman (Mitopus morio) is a harvestman with a dark saddle-shaped patch on its back that lives across the Northern Hemisphere, including Arctic tundra and high mountains.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Saddleback Harvestman in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Ecdysozoa lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
A Cold-Climate Specialist
It is one of the most widespread harvestmen, found from sea level to above the tree line and north into the Arctic. It copes with cold by being active at low temperatures and overwintering as eggs or juveniles.
Variable Color
The saddle and the pale body color vary from one animal to another, making identification tricky. Males and females differ in size.
Predators and Prey
It eats small invertebrates and is eaten by ground beetles and birds. Harvestmen are an important part of the food web in cool habitats. See Brown Harvestman.
Saddleback Harvestman at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Mitopus morio |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Arachnida |
| Order | Opiliones |
| Family | Phalangiidae |
| Field Guide group | Ecdysozoa: Arachnida (Spiders, Scorpions & Allies) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Dark saddle-shaped mark on a pale oval body; long slender legs; defends itself with smelly secretions from scent glands. |
| Order | Opiliones |
| Range | Holarctic, including Arctic and high mountains |
See Also
- Brown Harvestman — another harvestman
- Common Harvestman — a widespread harvestman