With their spindly legs and delicate bodies, daddy long legs are some of the most fascinating arachnids around. But if you take a closer look at these intriguing creatures, you may notice something seems a bit off about their legs. So how many legs does a daddy long legs actually have?

The answer isn't as straightforward as you may think. Let's take a journey into the intricate world of daddy long legs anatomy to uncover the truth about their limb count. We’ll explore what exactly daddy long legs are, examine their legs up close, and compare them to their arachnid relatives.

What Are Daddy Long Legs?

To understand the legs of daddy long legs, we first need to understand what they actually are. "Daddy long legs" is a name used for several different creatures, so it helps to break things down scientifically:

• True daddy long legs are arachnids from the order Opiliones, also known as harvestmen. There are over 6,500 species worldwide, characterized by oval bodies and, of course, long legs.

• Cellar spiders are true spiders with thin, daddy long legs-like appendages. They have six legs, not eight.

• Crane flies resemble giant mosquitoes and are sometimes called daddy long legs as well. They are not arachnids at all, but true insects with six legs.

For this discussion, we'll be focused on the true daddy long legs from the order Opiliones. These unique arachnids are found on every continent except Antarctica and inhabit diverse environments from rainforests to deserts.

Unlike spiders, daddy long legs lack silk and venom glands. They are generally omnivorous scavengers who enjoy feasting on dead plant and animal matter. Some also hunt small invertebrates.

Now that we know precisely what creatures we’re dealing with, let’s move on to examining their legs up close.

An Up-Close Look at Daddy Long Legs Legs

The most striking thing about daddy long legs are those impossibly thin, impossibly long legs. These delicate appendages can be several times longer than their little oval bodies.

Each leg is made up of seven segments:

• Coxa - attaches the leg to the body
• Trochanter - small, movable segment
• Femur - longest segment
• Patella - bent segment that allows the leg to flex
• Tibia - another long segment
• Metatarsus - connects the tarsus to the rest of the leg
• Tarsus - final segment covered in claws for gripping

The entire surface of each leg is covered in microscopic hairs and bristles called setae. These pick up the slightest vibrations and air currents, giving daddy long legs an incredibly acute sense of touch.

Now for the big question: how many legs does a daddy long legs have? Get ready to have your assumptions challenged!

Daddy Long Legs Have Eight Legs

Many people mistakenly think daddy long legs only have six legs. So where does this misconception come from?

Some of the confusion stems from cellar spiders, which look similar but as true spiders only have six legs. Crane flies are also often called daddy long legs, and they are insects with six legs as well.

But true Opiliones daddy long legs, despite their spindly appearance, are arachnids like spiders and scorpions. This means daddy long legs have eight legs.

Don't just take my word for it. Extensive research and scientific observation back up the fact that daddy long legs have eight legs:

• All 6,500+ species in the order Opiliones have eight legs. It's a defining trait.

• Microscopic examination and anatomy studies confirm eight legs.

• If a leg is lost, it is not regenerated. So if you see one with seven legs, it likely lost one through injury or autotomy.

So mystery solved! Daddy long legs have eight functional legs when fully intact. But why so many legs? Let's compare them to other arachnids to find out.

How Daddy Long Legs Legs Compare to Other Arachnids

Having eight legs is a key characteristic daddy long legs share with their arachnid cousins like spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks. All arachnids by definition have eight legs.

But the legs of daddy long legs differ in some important ways:

• They are much longer and thinner than other arachnids.

• There is no clear division between their bodies and legs like you see in spiders. Their legs seamlessly blend into their oval bodies.

• They don't use their legs to weave webs or inject venom like some spider species do.

The legs play similar roles in locomotion, sensory perception, and grasping prey across arachnid groups. But daddy long legs are specially equipped for life in their environments with those supersized, sensory-boosting legs.

Why Daddy Long Legs Have Such Long Legs

So why did daddy long legs evolve to have such extremely long, spindly legs compared to other arachnids? There are a few key advantages:

• Increased reach - Daddy long legs often scavenge in narrow crevices and other hard-to-access spots. Long legs allow them to grab food deep inside rocks, vegetation, or other tight areas.

• Enhanced sensory perception - More leg surface area means more sensory hairs. This helps them detect the faintest vibrations and chemical cues.

• Easier navigation over obstacles - With lengthy stilts, it’s easier for them to climb over rocks, logs, grass, and other obstacles.

• Defense mechanism - Autotomy allows daddy long legs to detach a leg when threatened, boosting their chances to escape. They have plenty of spare legs, so it doesn’t impact mobility too much.

• Mating displays - Male daddy long legs sometimes wave their elongated legs to attract mates. The longer the legs, the more impressive the show!

So while eight legs are standard arachnid equipment, the extremely long limbs of daddy long legs specifically help them survive and thrive. Next time you see one tottering along on those skinny stilts, you’ll have a new appreciation for its specialized anatomy!

The Takeaway: Daddy Long Legs Have Eight Specially Adapted Legs

Daddy long legs are some of the most uniquely adapted arachnids, thanks largely to those super lengthy legs. To recap:

• Daddy long legs are arachnids, not insects, so they have eight legs total.

• Each leg has seven segments, covered in sensory hairs.

• Their thin, long legs give them advantages for mobility, food access, sensory perception, defense, and mating.

• Other arachnids have eight legs too, but daddy long legs’ are uniquely elongated.

So however spindly and fragile daddy long legs' legs appear, they are complex, highly adapted structures. The next time you see one of these fascinating arachnids, take a moment to admire those impressive appendages!