Pholcus is a large genus of long-bodied cellar spiders and allies that belongs to the family Pholcidae.
It includes the cellar spider P. phalangioides, often called the "daddy longlegs". This may cause confusion because the name "daddy longlegs" is also applied to two other unrelated arthropods: the harvestman and the crane fly.
Description Pholcus, like Pholcidae in general, have extremely long and thin legs. The genus can be distinguished from other pholcid genera by its large size (body length >4 mm), eight eyes, evenly domed prosoma (lacking a median furrow or pit) and cylindrical opisthosoma (longer than it is high).
Habitat In the wild, Pholcus live in environments such as caves, under rocks, forest shrubs and deep limestone cracks. Synanthropic species such as P. phalangioides live in and around buildings and other disturbed habitats.
Species
, this genus includes 432 species.
These species have pages on Wikipedia:
Pholcus abstrusus Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus alticeps Spassky, 1932 – Germany to Ukraine, Russia (Europe to West Siberia), Caucasus, Iran, Tadjikistan Pholcus ancoralis L. Koch, 1865 – Ryukyu Is. to Hawaii, New Caledonia, French Polynesia Pholcus crypticolens Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 – Japan Pholcus fragillimus Strand, 1907 – Sri Lanka, India to Japan Pholcus kwanaksanensis Namkung & Kim, 1990 – Korea Pholcus manueli Gertsch, 1937 – Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia (Far East), China, Korea, Japan. Introduced to United States Pholcus nagasakiensis Strand, 1918 – Japan Pholcus opilionoides (Schrank, 1781) – Europe, Caucasus, Egypt. Introduced to Canada, United States Pholcus persicus Senglet, 1974 – Iran Pholcus phalangioides (Fuesslin, 1775) – Western Asia. Introduced to both Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and numerous islands (type species) Pholcus ponticus Thorell, 1875 – Romania, Bulgaria to China Pholcus velitchkovskyi Kulczyński, 1913 – Ukraine, Russia (Europe, Central Asia), Iran
Pholcus aba J. L. Li, S. Q. Li & Yao, 2025 – China Pholcus abstrusus Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus acutulus Paik, 1978 – Korea Pholcus aduncus Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus afghanus Senglet, 2008 – Afghanistan Pholcus agilis Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus alagarkoil (Huber, 2011) – India Pholcus alloctospilus Zhu & Gong, 1991 – China Pholcus alpinus Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus alticeps Spassky, 1932 – Germany to Ukraine, Russia (Europe to West Siberia), Caucasus, Iran, Tadjikistan Pholcus amani Huber, 2011 – Tanzania Pholcus anachoreta Dimitrov & Ribera, 2006 – Canary Islands Pholcus ancoralis L. Koch, 1865 – Ryukyu Is. to Hawaii, New Caledonia, French Polynesia Pholcus ankang Yang, He & Yao, 2024 – China Pholcus anlong Chen, Zhang & Zhu, 2011 – China Pholcus arayat Huber, 2011 – Philippines Pholcus arcuatilis Yao & Li, 2013 – Laos Pholcus arkit Huber, 2011 – Central Asia Pholcus armeniacus Senglet, 1974 – Iran Pholcus arsacius Senglet, 2008 – Iran Pholcus attuleh Huber, 2011 – Cameroon Pholcus auricularis B. S. Zhang, F. Zhang & Liu, 2016 – China Pholcus babao Tong & Li, 2010 – China Pholcus baegamsan Jang, Yoo, Lee and Kim, 2026 – South Korea Pholcus baguio Huber, 2016 – Philippines Pholcus bailongensis Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus bajia Lu, Yao & He, 2022 – China Pholcus baka Huber, 2011 – West, Central Africa Pholcus bakweri Huber, 2011 – Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko) Pholcus baldiosensis Wunderlich, 1992 – Canary Islands Pholcus bamboutos Huber, 2011 – Cameroon Pholcus bangfai Huber, 2011 – Laos, Vietnam Pholcus bantouensis Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus baoji Yang, He & Yao, 2024 – China Pholcus bat Lan & Li, 2021 – China Pholcus batepa Huber, 2011 – São Tomé and Príncipe Pholcus beijingensis Zhu & Song, 1999 – China Pholcus berlandi Millot, 1941 – Senegal Pholcus bernhardi Sherwood & Krammer, 2025 – Malaysia (peninsula), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java) Pholcus bessus Zhu & Gong, 1991 – China Pholcus bicornutus Simon, 1892 – Philippines Pholcus bidentatus Zhu, J. X. Zhang, Z. S. Zhang & Chen, 2005 – China, Laos Pholcus bifidus Yao, Pham & Li, 2015 – Vietnam Pholcus bikilai Huber, 2011 – Ethiopia Pholcus bimbache Dimitrov & Ribera, 2006 – Canary Islands Pholcus bing Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus bolikhamsai Huber, 2011 – Laos Pholcus bourgini Millot, 1941 – Guinea Pholcus brevis Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus bulacanensis Yao & Li, 2017 – Philippines (Luzon) Pholcus caecus Yao, Pham & Li, 2015 – Vietnam Pholcus calcar Wunderlich, 1987 – Canary Islands Pholcus calligaster Thorell, 1895 – Nepal, Myanmar Pholcus camba Huber, 2011 – Indonesia (Sulawesi) Pholcus caspius Senglet, 2008 – Iran Pholcus ceheng Chen, Zhang & Zhu, 2011 – China Pholcus cenranaensis Yao & Li, 2016 – Indonesia (Sulawesi) Pholcus ceylonicus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869 – Sri Lanka, possibly Malaysia Pholcus chang Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus changchi Yao, Li & Lu, 2022 – China Pholcus changli Yao, 2024 – China Pholcus chaoyang S. Li & Yao, 2025 – China Pholcus chappuisi Fage, 1936 – Kenya Pholcus chattoni Millot, 1941 – Guinea, Ivory Coast Pholcus cheaha Huber, 2011 – United States Pholcus chengde Yao, Li & Lu, 2022 – China Pholcus cheongogensis Kim & Ye, 2015 – Korea Pholcus chevronus Yin, Xu & Bao, 2012 – China Pholcus chiakensis Seo, 2014 – Korea Pholcus chicheng Tong & Li, 2010 – China Pholcus chilgapsanensis J. G. Lee & J. H. Lee, 2021 – Korea Pholcus choctaw Huber, 2011 – United States Pholcus chugok J. G. Lee & J. H. Lee, 2024 – Korea Pholcus chuncheonensis J. G. Lee, Choi & S. K. Kim, 2021 – Korea Pholcus circularis Kraus, 1960 – São Tomé and Príncipe Pholcus clavatus Schenkel, 1936 – China Pholcus clavimaculatus Zhu & Song, 1999 – China Pholcus cophenius Senglet, 2008 – Afghanistan Pholcus corcho Wunderlich, 1987 – Canary Islands Pholcus corniger Dimitrov & Ribera, 2006 – Canary Islands Pholcus crassipalpis Spassky, 1937 – Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia (Europe, Caucasus), Turkey, Kazakhstan Pholcus crassus Paik, 1978 – Korea Pholcus creticus Senglet, 1971 – Greece (Crete) Pholcus crypticolenoides Kim, J. H. Lee & J. G. Lee, 2015 – Korea Pholcus crypticolens Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 – Japan Pholcus cuneatus Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus curvus B. S. Zhang, F. Zhang & Liu, 2016 – China Pholcus dade Huber, 2011 – United States Pholcus dali Zhang & Zhu, 2009 – China Pholcus datan Tong & Li, 2010 – China Pholcus datong Yao, Li & Lu, 2022 – China Pholcus debilis (Thorell, 1899) – Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko) Pholcus decorus Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus dentatus Wunderlich, 1995 – Madeira Pholcus deokjeok Jang, Yoo, Kim & Bae, 2025 – Korea Pholcus deunggolensis Kim & Kim, 2016 – Korea Pholcus dieban Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus difengensis Yao & Li, 2016 – China Pholcus dixie Huber, 2011 – United States Pholcus djelalabad Senglet, 2008 – Afghanistan, India Pholcus dongxue Yao & Li, 2017 – Thailand Pholcus doucki Huber, 2011 – Guinea Pholcus duan Yao & Li, 2017 – Thailand Pholcus dungara Huber, 2001 – Australia (Queensland) Pholcus duryun Jang, Bae, Lee, Yoo & Kim, 2023 – Korea Pholcus edentatus Campos & Wunderlich, 1995 – Canary Islands Pholcus elymaeus Senglet, 2008 – Iran Pholcus exilis Tong & Li, 2010 – China Pholcus extumidus Paik, 1978 – Korea, Japan Pholcus fagei Kratochvíl, 1940 – Kenya Pholcus faveauxi (Lawrence, 1967) – DR Congo Pholcus fengcheng Zhang & Zhu, 2009 – China Pholcus fengmeii Zhang, He & Yao, 2024 – China Pholcus fengning Yao, Li & Lu, 2022 – China Pholcus foliaceus Peng & Zhang, 2013 – China Pholcus fragillimus Strand, 1907 – Sri Lanka, India to Japan Pholcus fuerteventurensis Wunderlich, 1992 – Canary Islands, Morocco Pholcus gaizhou Yao & Li, 2021 – China Pholcus gajiensis Seo, 2014 – Korea Pholcus gangneung Jang, Yoo, Kim & Bae, 2025 – Korea Pholcus ganziensis Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus gaoi Song & Ren, 1994 – China Pholcus genuiformis Wunderlich, 1995 – Algeria Pholcus geogeum Lee, Yoo, Jang & Kim, 2025 – Korea Pholcus gimsatgat J. G. Lee & J. H. Lee, 2024 – Korea Pholcus gochang Lee, Yoo, Jang & Kim, 2025 – Korea Pholcus gomerae Wunderlich, 1980 – Canary Islands Pholcus gonggarensis Yao & Li, 2016 – China Pholcus gosuensis Kim & Lee, 2004 – Korea Pholcus gracillimus Thorell, 1890 – Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (Sumatra) Pholcus guadarfia Dimitrov & Ribera, 2007 – Canary Islands Pholcus guangling Yao, Li & Lu, 2022 – China Pholcus guani Song & Ren, 1994 – China Pholcus guanshui Yao & Li, 2021 – China Pholcus gui Zhu & Song, 1999 – China Pholcus guineensis Millot, 1941 – Guinea, Sierra Leone Pholcus hamaensis Yao & Li, 2016 – China Pholcus hamatus Tong & Ji, 2010 – China Pholcus hamuchal Yao & Li, 2020 – Pakistan Pholcus harveyi Zhang & Zhu, 2009 – China Pholcus hebei S. Li & Yao, 2025 – China Pholcus helenae Wunderlich, 1987 – Canary Islands Pholcus henanensis Zhu & Mao, 1983 – China Pholcus hieroglyphicus Pavesi, 1883 – Eritrea Pholcus higoensis Irie & Ono, 2008 – Japan Pholcus hinsonensis Yao & Li, 2016 – Thailand Pholcus hochiminhi Yao, Pham & Li, 2015 – Vietnam Pholcus hongcheon Jang, Yoo, Lee and Kim, 2026 – South Korea Pholcus hongseong Lee, Yoo, Jang & Kim, 2025 – Korea Pholcus hoyo Huber, 2011 – DR Congo Pholcus huailai Yao, Li & Lu, 2022 – China Pholcus huapingensis Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus huberi Zhang & Zhu, 2009 – China Pholcus huludao S. Li & Yao, 2025 – China Pholcus hunyuan Yao, Li & Lu, 2022 – China Pholcus huoxiaerensis Yao & Li, 2016 – China Pholcus hwaam Jang, Bae, Lee, Yoo & Kim, 2023 – Korea Pholcus hwangjeong J. G. Lee & J. H. Lee, 2024 – Korea Pholcus hyrcanus Senglet, 1974 – Iran Pholcus hystaspus Senglet, 2008 – Iran Pholcus imbricatus Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus incheonensis J. G. Lee & J. H. Lee, 2021 – Korea Pholcus intricatus Dimitrov & Ribera, 2003 – Canary Islands Pholcus jaegeri Huber, 2011 – Laos Pholcus jeocheon Lee, Yoo, Jang & Kim, 2025 – Korea Pholcus jiaocheng Zhao, Li & Yao, 2023 – China Pholcus jiaotu Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus jiaozuo Yang & Yao, 2024 – China Pholcus jiguanshan Yao & Li, 2021 – China Pholcus jindongensis Seo, 2018 – Korea Pholcus jingnan Yao & Li, 2020 – China Pholcus jingyangensis Yao & Li, 2016 – China Pholcus jinniu Tong & Li, 2010 – China Pholcus jinwum Huber, 2001 – Australia (Queensland) Pholcus jinzhou S. Li & Yao, 2025 – China Pholcus jiulong Tong & Li, 2010 – China Pholcus jiuwei Tong & Ji, 2010 – China Pholcus jixianensis Zhu & Yu, 1983 – China Pholcus joreongensis Seo, 2004 – Korea Pholcus jusahi Huber, 2011 – United States Pholcus juwangensis Seo, 2014 – Korea Pholcus kaebyaiensis Yao & Li, 2016 – Thailand Pholcus kakum Huber, 2009 – Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Congo Pholcus kalam Yao & Li, 2020 – Pakistan Pholcus kamkaly Huber, 2011 – Kazakhstan Pholcus kandahar Senglet, 2008 – Afghanistan Pholcus kangding Zhang & Zhu, 2009 – China Pholcus kapuri Tikader, 1977 – India (Andaman Is.) Pholcus karawari Huber, 2011 – New Guinea Pholcus kawit Huber, 2016 – Philippines Pholcus kihansi Huber, 2011 – Tanzania Pholcus kimi Song & Zhu, 1994 – China, Laos Pholcus kindia Huber, 2011 – Guinea Pholcus kingi Huber, 2011 – United States Pholcus knoeseli Wunderlich, 1992 – Canary Islands Pholcus koah Huber, 2001 – Australia (Queensland) Pholcus koasati Huber, 2011 – United States Pholcus krachensis Yao & Li, 2016 – Thailand Pholcus kribi Huber, 2011 – Cameroon Pholcus kuaile Yao, Li & Lu, 2022 – China Pholcus kui Yao & Li, 2012 – China Pholcus kunming Zhang & Zhu, 2009 – China Pholcus kwamgumi Huber, 2011 – Kenya, Tanzania Pholcus kwanaksanensis Namkung & Kim, 1990 – Korea Pholcus kwangkyosanensis Kim & Park, 2009 – Korea Pholcus kyondo Huber, 2011 – Congo Pholcus laksao Huber, 2011 – Laos Pholcus lamperti Strand, 1907 – Tanzania Pholcus langensis Yao & Li, 2016 – China Pholcus lanieri Huber, 2011 – United States