By Philippa Warr, Wired UK

A species of harvestman, known colloquially as a daddy longlegs, with a leg-span of over 12 inches has been discovered living in the caves of Laos.

[partner id="wireduk" align="right"]The arachnid was collected by Dr Peter Jager, head of arachnology at the Senckenberg Research Institute, during breaks while filming a television series in Laos' southern province of Khammouan.

According to Jager, the specimen has yet to be identified to species level. "In attempting to categorise the creature properly, however, and give it a scientific name, I soon reached my limits," he said in a press release.

Consulting specialist Ana Lucia Tourinho of Brazil's National Institute for Research of the Amazon suggested the creature was likely to be of the genus Gagrella.

Similarly-sized species of arthropods have also been discovered in the surrounding area and have been linked with the cave systems. "What mechanisms or factors are responsible for this frequency of gigantism is still unclear," said Jager in the press release.

Fortunately for the squeamish Laos cave tourist, arthropod limb growth does appear to be limited, either due to problems of oxygen supply to the extremities or by the difficulty of moving speedily towards or away from other creatures.

Source: Wired.co.uk