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Pholcus phalangioides
(Fuesslin, 1775)
Araña De Patas Largas

Family: Pholcidae
Order: Araneae
Class: Arachnida
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

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Records from Uruguay

Other common names: Araña Patona, Araña De Las Casas.


Description: It has a somewhat elongated body and very long, thin legs, which is the most noticeable characteristic when differentiating it from spiders of other families. However, it shares this trait with other species of the Pholcidae family.

Sexual Dimorphism: Difficult to notice with the naked eye, but when observed closely, the modified pedipalps (mouthparts) of the male are visible, which serve a reproductive function. It is common to see females with their egg sac, which is circular in shape and not covered with silk, held by their chelicerae (mouthparts).

Habitat: Naturally inhabits caves and crevices, however, the species has adapted to living inside all kinds of human-made structures, both inhabited and abandoned, where it is a very abundant species.

Geographical Distribution: Cosmopolitan species, likely due to the involuntary transport of specimens by humans worldwide.

Behavior: It constructs an irregular and three-dimensional web, from which it hangs inverted. When disturbed, it performs a series of body vibrations, shaking rapidly from side to side as a defense mechanism.

Feeding: It is a sedentary species that consumes insects trapped in its web.

Author of this description: Nicolás Olejnik




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Last published photographs

Foto
Photography ID: 618571
  Adult

Punta del Este
Maldonado
Uruguay
01/13/2025
Barbara Wild
Foto
Photography ID: 616094
♂ ♀
  Adult

Punta del Este
Maldonado
Uruguay
12/27/2024
Barbara Wild
Foto
Photography ID: 454185
  Adult

Rivera
Rivera
Uruguay
07/13/2021
Guillermo Menéndez
Foto
Photography ID: 326475
  Adult

Colonia
Colonia
Uruguay
04/05/2019
Emilio Lessa
Foto
Photography ID: 186208
  Adult

Mercedes
Soriano
Uruguay
03/10/2015
Luis Alvarez
Foto
Photography ID: 151251
♂ ♀
  Egg

El Pinar
Canelones
Uruguay
04/21/2016
Mauricio Silvera
Foto
Photography ID: 144991
♂ ♀
  Egg

El Pinar
Canelones
Uruguay
03/04/2015
Mauricio Silvera



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Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
223621013/01/2025UruguayMaldonadoPunta del Este, Punta del EsteBarbara Wild
221552927/12/2024UruguayMaldonadoEl Chorro, Punta del EsteBarbara Wild
142918213/07/2021UruguayRiveraRiveraGuillermo Menéndez
90697805/04/2019UruguayColoniaColonia del Sacramento, ColoniaEmilio Lessa
43828621/04/2016UruguayCanelonesEl PinarMauricio Silvera
53072010/03/2015UruguaySorianoMercedesLuis Alvarez
42060704/03/2015UruguayCanelonesEl PinarMauricio Silvera
Page 1

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Citation recommended:

EcoRegistros. 2026. Pholcus phalangioides - Species sheet. Acceded from https://www.ecoregistros.org on 30/03/2026.