A

cuticular or sclerotised projection, common on palpal segments, including femur, patella or tibia of the palp; see also tibial apophysis (TA) and retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA)

Araneomorphae:

infraorder of spiders characterised by diaxial chelicerae and one pair of book lungs

Atrium (pl: atria):

the enlarged opening of the gonopore in haplogyne females; a cavity in the epigynal plate of entelegyne females containing copulatory openings

B

Basal:

toward the body or the base of an appendage

Book lung:

a respiratory structure consisting of a rounded gas exchange portion with a posterior spiracle. Most Araneomorphae have a single pair located anterolaterally of the epigastric furrow; Mygalomorphae and Gradungulidae have a second pair posterior of the epigastric furrow

Boss (= condyle):

a rounded swelling located at the base of the chelicera

Bristles:

small rigid setae or small spines

Bulb (= bulbus = genital bulb = palpal organ):

the genital structure of the male spider

C

Calamistrum:

a row of curved thick setae (rarely arranged in an oval patch) located dorsally along metatarsus IV of cribellate spiders; used for combing out silk from the cribellum

Carapace:

dorsal part of the cephalothorax

Cephalic region (= caput = cephalon = pars cephalica):

the anterior (= head) portion of the carapace< /A>

Cephalon:

see cephalic region

Cephalothorax (= prosoma):

the anterior division of the spider body

Chelicera (pl: chelicerae):

the anterior appendages of a spider (the "jaws") consisting of a large basal segment (paturon) and an apical fang

Cheliceral furrow (= fang furrow):

the groove of the chelicera into which the fang closes

Cheliceral teeth:

large and/or tiny tooth-like projections on the cheliceral furrow margins

Chilum (pl: chila):

a small sclerite at the base of the chelicera (under the clypeus)

Clasping spur:

a type of mating spur consisting of an enlarged, curved spine that articulates against the leg segment, as in Mysmenidae

Claw:

see tarsal claw

Claw tuft:

a dense brush of setae between the paired tarsal claws; almost always indicates the absence of the unpaired claw; tufts may be composed of simple setae or thick broad ones (= tenent setae)

Clypeus:

the space between the anterior edge of the carapace and the anterior eyes

Colulus:

a nonfunctional cribellum that may be as large as a cribellum but is more commonly reduced to a small fleshy lobe or even just a pair of setae

Conductor:

the structure of the male palp associated with the embolus; may be sclerotised or hyaline

Copulatory ducts:

ducts in the female genitalia which connect the copulatory pores to the spermathecae

Copulatory openings (= copulatory pores = epigynal openings):

external pores on the epigyna of entelegyne females

Copulatory pores:

see copulatory openings

Coxa (pl: coxae):

the basal, or first, segment of a leg and palp

Cribellate:

having a cribellum

Cribellum:

a broad flat spinning plate anterior to the remaining spinnerets of cribellate spiders

Cymbium (pl: cymbia):

the adult male palpal tarsus, especially when modified as a spoon-shaped structure containing the palpal bulb

D

Diad:

a pair of two contiguous eyes

Diaxial (= labidognathous):

downward projecting chelicerae with the fangs operating along the transverse axis; present in Araneomorphae

Distal (= apical):

toward the terminal portion of an appendage (away from the body)

Dorsal:

upper surface (toward the top); dorsal view

Dorsal groove:

see fovea

E

Ecribellate:

lacking a cribellum

Ectal:

away from the midline of the body

Embolic division:

in the Linyphiidae, the terminal portion of the palpal bulb, consisting of the radix, the embolus and various accessory sclerites. It is attached to the suprategulum by a narrow stalk

Embolus:

the intromittent organ of the male palp, connected to the sperm reservoir; often slender, but variable in shape and length

Endite (= maxilla = gnathocoxa = gnathobase):

the expanded lobe of the palpal coxa situated laterally of the labium

Entelegyne (= entelegynous condition):

the derived form of spider genitalia where the female has external copulatory openings, typically on a sclerotised epigynum, and the male has relatively complex palpi; also refers to the clade, Entelegynae, which includes the vast majority of living spiders; see haplogyne

Epigastric furrow:

a transverse groove across the anterior ventral part of the abdomen

Epigyne:

see epigynum

Epigynum (pl: epigyna) (= epigyne):

the sclerotised region of female spiders covering the internal genitalia and located between the book lungs and anterior of the epigastric furrow

F

Fang:

the apical segment of a chelicera; has the opening of the venom gland

Fang furrow:

see cheliceral furrow

Femur (pl: femora):

the third segment of the leg, outward from the body, located between the trochanter and patella

Foramen:

an opening or orifice

Fovea (= dorsal groove = thoracic groove = furrow = pit):

the central depression in the carapace representing the invagination of the carapace where the stomach muscles attach

G

Genital bulb:

see bulb

Gonopore:

the genital opening, located in the middle of the epigastric furrow

H

Haplogyne (= haplogynous condition):

the primitive form of spider genitalia where the female has the copulatory openings internally, within the gonopore, and typically lacks a sclerotised epigynum, and the male has relatively simple palpi; this form is found in the basal spiders, including Mygalomorphae, Gradungulidae, and Haplogynae; see entelegyne.

I

Incertae sedis:

of uncertain position

L

Labium (pl: labia) (= lip):

the anterior median extension of the sternum, which constitutes a separate sclerite

Labral spur:

a short projection from the labrum of certain spiders (Anapidae)

Labrum:

the upper lip (usually covered by the chelicerae and not easily visible)

Laterigrade:

crab-like leg orientation with the legs directed outward from the body; these legs are twisted at the trochanter with the morphologically prolateral surface assuming a dorsal position (e.g., Thomisidae)

M

Macrosetae:

see spines

Mastidion (pl: mastidia):

a tooth on the cheliceral face

Maxilla (pl: maxillae):

see endite

Median apophysis:

on the male palp, a sclerotised structure in the lower center of the bulb

Median spinnerets:

see posterior median spinnerets

Mesal:

toward the midline of the body

Metatarsus (pl: metatarsi):

the 6th segment of the leg, located between the tibia and tarsus

Mygalomorphae:

infraorder of spiders charact

N

Nomen dubium (pl: nomina dubia):

Latin term for scientific names of unknown or doubtful application

O

Opisthosoma:

see abdomen

P

Palp (= palpus = pedipalp):

the most anterior leg-like appendage in spiders

Palpal organ:

see bulb

Palpus (pl: palpi):

see palp

Paracymbium (pl: paracymbia):

an appendage of the cymbium; usually a rigid outgrowth but may be flexibly attached by a membrane

Paraxial (= orthognathous):

type of chelicerae that project forward with fangs articulating along the longitudinal (vertical) axis (like the teeth of a garden rake); present in Mesothelae and Mygalomorphae

Pars cephalica:

see cephalic region

Patella (pl: patellae):

the 4th segment of the legs and palpi outward from the body; it is a short, slightly curved segment located between the femur and tibia

Paturon:

the basal segment of a chelicera

Pectinate:

comb-like

Pedicel:

the narrowed connection between the cephalothorax and abdomen; the "waist" of the spider

Pedipalp:

see palp

Peg teeth:

spine-like teeth on the chelicerae situated in sockets

PER:

posterior eye row

PLE:

posterior lateral eyes

PLS:

posterior lateral spinnerets

Plumose setae:

recumbent setae with long branches

PME:

posterior median eyes

PMS:

posterior median spinnerets

Porrect:

extending forward; in spiders refers to the projecting diaxial chelicerae of certain Araneomorphae, as Dysderidae and some Desidae, to differentiate them from the paraxial chelicerae of Mygalomorphae

Posterior:

back; toward the back; posterior view

Posterior eye row (PER):

the posteriormost row of eyes, usually consisting of the posterior median and posterior lateral eyes

Posterior lateral eyes (PLE):

eyes situated on the posterolateral portion of the eye group

Posterior lateral spinnerets (PLS):

spinnerets that are located closest to the dorsum

Posterior median eyes (PME):

eyes situated on the posterio median portion of the eye group

Posterior median spinnerets (PMS):

spinnerets located between the posterior lateral spinnerets (PLS) and the anterior lateral spinnerets (ALS)

Posterior spinnerets:

see posterior lateral spinnerets

Process:

outgrowth of surface, margin, or appendage

Procursus:

retrolateral paracymbium found in pholcids

Procurved eye row:

one in which the lateral eyes are positioned anterior to the median eyes

Prograde:

typical leg orientation with the anterior pairs directed forward and the posterior pairs backwards (e.g., in Lycosidae)

Prolateral:

on the anterior surface of an appendage

Promargin:

the anterior margin of the cheliceral furrow in Araneomorphae (mesal margin in Mygalomorphae)

Promarginal:

on the anterior margin

Prosoma:

see cephalothorax

Proximal (= basal):

toward the body or the base

R

Radix:

sclerotised apophysis of the male palp

Rastellum (pl: rastella):

a rake-like structure near the cheliceral fang base of some Mygalomorphae

Rebordered labium:

one which is thicker apically than basally

Recurved eye row:

one in which the lateral eyes are positioned posterior to the median eyes

Retrolateral:

on the posterior surface of an appendage

Retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA):

a sclerotised process on the retrolateral face of the male palpal tibia

Retromargin:

the posterior margin of the cheliceral furrow in Araneomorphae (ectal margin in Mygalomorphae)

RTA:

see retrolateral tibial apophysis

S

Scales:

flattened setae of various shapes

Scape (= scapus):

an elongated process of some epigyna, usually posteriorly directed

Sclerite:

a sclerotised plate

Sclerotisation:

the process of becoming sclerotised, or thickened and hardened

Sclerotised:

thickened and hardened

Scopula (pl: scopulae):

a brush of setae, such as the dense pads along the ventro-apical surface of the legs, where they may occur with or without claw tufts; also refers to the looser fringe of setae on the anterior edge of the endite and labium

Scutum (pl: scuta) (= scute):

sclerotised abdominal plate, usually dorsal, of some Araneomorphae

Secondarily haplogyne:

entelegyne spiders that are characterised by the loss of the external copulatory openings of the female genitalia, therefore resembling haplogyne spiders

Semidiaxial:

chelicerae intermediate between the diaxial condition of araneomorphs and paraxial of mygalomophs, as in Grandungulidae

Serrula (pl: serrulae):

a row of tiny teeth along the anterior edge of the endite

Seta (pl: setae):

may be erect or recumbent; simple, serrate, feathery, to plumose, or clavate to broad scales

Sigilla (s = sigillum):

circular impressions or "dimples" on the abdomen and sternum of some spiders representing points of muscle attachment and endoskeletal attachments

Somatic:

referring to non-reproductive structures

Spermatheca (pl: spermathecae) (= seminal receptacle):

internal sclerotised sperm-storage sacs present in all female spiders

Spigot:

tiny cylindrical extension of the spinnerets from which silk is extruded

Spine (= macroseta):

a) pointed rigid structure situated in a socket and capable of articulating; as this is an enlarged seta, macroseta is a more correct although less often used term in spider taxonomy — b) solid, pointed extension of the cuticle

Spinnerets:

finger-like or conical silk spinning organs located at the posterior end of the abdomen

Spiracle:

the opening into the book lung or trachea

Sternum (pl: sterna):

the ventral sclerite of the cephalothora

Stridulatory file:

a series of fine grooves used in conjunction with thorns to produce sound, typically located along the ectal margin of the chelicera or along the anteroventral margin of the abdomen

Suprategulum:

the basal sclerite of the male genital bulb

T

TA:

tibial apophysis

Tarsal claw:

sharp curved structure at the tip of the tarsus, typically 1 on the palp and 2 or 3 on the legs. See also paired claws and unpaired claw

Tarsal organ:

sense organs, usually pit-like, on the dorsal surface of spider tarsi

Tarsal prong (= tarsal rod):

projecting membrane replacing the tarsal organ, as found in Otira (Amaurobiidae)

Tarsus (pl: tarsi) (= distitarsus):

the 7th or distal-most segment of the leg, the distal segment of the palp

Teeth:

conical, pointed, rigid outgrowths of the margins of the cheliceral furrow

Tegulum:

the middle sclerite of the male palp that contains the sperm duct and bears the embolus

Tibia (pl: tibiae):

5th segment of the leg and palp; located between patella and metatarsus of leg, patella and tarsus of palp

Tibial apophysis (TA):

a process on the male palpal tibia, most commonly retrolateral, but may occur on other surfaces. See also retrolateral tibial apophysis

Tracheal spiracle:

the opening to the tracheal respiratory system

Triad:

a group of three contiguous eyes

Trichobothrium (pl: trichobothria):

a sensory seta (sensillum) arising from a round pit (bothrium); typically these are very slender and project vertically from the surface above the other setae

Trochanter:

second segment of the leg or palp between the coxa and femur, often a short ring-shaped segment

Troglobite:

obligate cave dwellers that typically show morphological adaptations to cave life such as loss of pigmentation, elongation of appendages and a reduction (partial or complete) of eyes

Troglophile:

facultative cave dwellers; taxa that show affinities for cave habitats

U

Unpaired claw (= median claw):

the third claw (not paired) located apically on the tarsus; absent from male palpi

V

Ventral:

bottom (toward the bottom), ventral view