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Glossary of arachnology terms

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Glossary of arachnology terms

This glossary describes the terms used in the formal descriptions of arachnids, particularly spiders.

Contents

Terms

  • Apophysis: a process or outgrowth of the exoskeleton from any part of the body, but particularly on the appendages

    • Head and body

  • Abdomen or opisthosoma: One of two body segments, towards the posterior end.
  • Carapace: The upper (dorsal) portion of the cephalothorax.
  • Cephalothorax or prosoma: One of two body segments, towards the anterior end.
  • Chelicera: The appendage that includes the fang. (Sometimes called the jaw.)
  • Clypeus: the area of the carapace between the anterior eyes and the anterior edge of the carapace.
  • Dorsum: The upper (dorsal) portion of the body or abdomen.
  • Dorsal groove: Another name for the fovea of the carapace.
  • Fovea: A depression or pit in the centre of the carapace of a spider marking an inward projection of the exoskeleton to which stomach muscles are attached.
  • Labio-sternum mound: A mound separating the labium from the sternum, found in found in some tarantulas, where it can be a diagnostic feature.
  • Sternum: The lower (ventral) portion of the cephalothorax.
  • Thoracic furrow: Another name for the fovea of the carapace.
  • Venter (or ventrum): The lower (ventral) portion of the body or abdomen.

    • Legs and palps

  • Segments:
  • Coxa : first leg segment, between body and trochanter.
  • Trochanter : second leg segment, between coxa and femur
  • Femur : third leg segment, between trochanter and tibia.
  • Patella: fourth leg segment, between femur and tibia.
  • Tibia : fifth leg segment, between patella and metatarsus.
  • Metatarsus (or basitarsus): sixth leg segment, between tibia and tarsus; absent in the pedipalp.
  • Tarsus (or telotarsus): seventh (last) leg segment, after the metatarsus.
  • Lateral (applied to legs): viewed from above or below, the sides of the leg or palp, i.e. the surfaces parallel to the line of sight
  • Prolateral: viewed from above or below, the side of the leg or palp nearest the mouth, i.e. the side facing forward
  • Retrolateral: viewed from above or below, the side of the leg or palp furthest from the mouth, i.e. the side facing backwards

    • Pedipalp

  • Maxilla: modified coxa of the pedipalp, used in feeding.
  • Carpoblem: the principal tibial apophysis on the male pedipalp. (Typically, this is just called the tibial apophysis.)
  • Retrolateral tibial apophysis: a backward-facing projection on the tibia of the male pedipalp.

    • Markings

  • Folium : A broad leaf-like marking along the medial line of the top of the abdomen.
  • Heart mark : A narrow marking along the top of the abdomen roughly corresponding to the location of the heart.

    • Abbreviations

    Some abbreviations commonly found in descriptions of spider anatomy include:

  • ALE: anterior lateral eyes
  • ALS: anterior lateral spinnerets
  • AME: anterior median eyes
  • DTA: dorsal tegular apophysis
  • DTiA: dorsal tibial apophysis
  • LTA: lateral tegular apophysis
  • MOQ: median ocular quadrangle
  • PLE: posterior lateral eyes
  • PLS: posterior lateral spinnerets
  • PME: posterior median eyes
  • PMS: posterior median spinnerets
  • RCF: retrolateral cymbial fold
  • RTA: retrolateral tibial apophysis
  • VTA: ventral tegular apophysis
  • VTiA: ventral tibial apophysis

    • References

    Glossary of arachnology terms Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA