Arthropod Morphology
Parts of a Spider: Dorsal View of a Male Spider
Dorsal View of a Male Spider
Chelicera:
The first pair of appendages which in spiders has become modified into a stout basal part and a smaller distal segment, the fang.
Pedipalp:
The second pair of appendages. In mature males the tip becomes an organ used to transfer sperm to the female.
Anterior eye row:
The front row of simple eyes. Most spiders have eight but some have six, two, or even none at all.
Posterior eye row:
The back row of simple eyes.
Cephalothorax (or prosoma):
The anterior (or front) major body segment, literally a fusion of the head and thorax.
Pedicel:
A narrow tube which connects the two major body segments, it carries the gut, blood supply, and ventral nerve.
Abdomen (or opisthosoma):
The posterior (or back) major body segment.
Spinnerets:
Fleshy finger-like appendages which emit silk from tiny spigots at their tips.
Coxa:
The first element of the walking leg.
Trochanter:
The second element of a walking leg, between the coxa and femur.
Femur:
The third element of a walking leg, between the trochanter and patella.
Patella:
The fourth element of a walking leg, between the femur and tibia.
Tibia:
The fifth element of a walking leg, between the patella and metatarsus.
Metatarsus:
The sixth element of a walking leg, between the tibia and tarsus.
Tarsus:
The seventh element of a walking leg between the tibia and claw.
Claws:
All spiders have two or three tarsal claws.
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