What sorts of invertebrates live in rotting logs?
Alongside a huge diversity of fungi, slime molds and other organisms that often escape notice by people, rotting logs
contain a wealth of beautiful and amazing invertebrates. Some that we are researching include velvet worms (Onychophora),
flatworms (Terracola - terrestrial platyhelminths), springtails (Collembola, primative insects), and opiliones (harvestmen,
a type of arachnid, 'spiders that aren't spiders'!)
Funnel web spiders comprise a numerous and diverse group of species around Australia. There are several species that
live in rottings logs. They may live for decades, and reach as much as 10 g. Fortunately these spiders are quite docile
when uncovered by researchers, because they are cold-blooded and the saproxylic habitat is typically cool and moist.
