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National Distribution

About this species

Recorded altitude range
50m to 401m

Species text

Distribution
Sabacon viscayanus is represented in Britain by the sub-species ramblaianus. It is probably a recent introduction (first record: 1980 on the Gower Peninsula) spreading throughout Wales and more recently found in the Wyre Forest area in Worcestershire (2013) and Devon (2014). Its European distribution is centred on the Pyrenees.

Habitat and ecology It is found in damp woodland (mixed and deciduous), utilising deep litter and woodland edge debris. It has also been recorded in subterranean habitats (as in other sabaconids).

Adult females have been recorded between June and October but very little is known about its life-cycle or feeding habits. The dense, brush-like covering of glandular setae on the pedipalps suggests it may be suited to mopping up small invertebrates such as springtails.

Status
Probably an introduced species, which is spreading rapidly.

Text based on: Hillyard, P. D. 2005. Harvestmen: keys and notes for the identification of British species. Synopses of the British Fauna 4 (3rd edn). Field Studies Council, Shrewsbury.

References

Gruber, J. 2003. Origin and gender of the name Sabacon Simon, 1879 (Opiliones, Palpatores, Ischyropsalidoidea). Newsletter of the British Arachnological Society 96: 6.

Schönhofer, A. L. 2013. A taxonomic catalogue of the Dyspnoi Hansen and Sørensen, 1904 (Arachnida: Opiliones). Zootaxa 3679: 1-68  References

Adult Season

Habitats

background methodology

Recorded management for locations with Sabacon viscayanus ramblaianus

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Sabacon viscayanus ramblaianus

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