|
Word |
Definition |
|
Abdomen (adj. Abdominal |
- the posteriorof the two major divisions of the body of a spider;
often called the opistosoma |
|
Accessory claws |
- serrated and greatly thickened hairs near the true tarsal claws in
some spiders |
|
Aciniform |
- form of silk gland and its associated spigot type |
|
Acuminate |
- tapering to a point |
|
Adnexae |
- a collective term for the spermathecae and ducts forming the
internal reproductive organs of the female spider |
|
Aeolian deposits |
- sediments deposited by wind- consisting of sand and dust. |
|
AER |
- anterior eye row |
|
Agonistic |
- combative or aggressive behavior |
|
ALE |
- anterior lateral eyes |
|
Allopatric |
- species, sub species etc separated by geographical features.
Occupying a different geographical range. See SYMPATRIC |
|
Alpine Ecoregion |
- the treeless Alpine Ecoregion occurs above the Upper Subalpine at
altitudes of 2250 m to > 2650 m. Alpine vegetation typically forms a
complex, fine-scale mosaic in which microclimatic factors are related
in marked changes in community composition. Significant microclimatic
factors include aspect, wind exposure, time of snow melt, soil
moisture, and snow depth. |
|
ALS |
- anterior lateral spinnerets |
|
Alveolus |
- the hollowed-out part of the cymbium, of the male palpal tarsus,
which the palpal bulb arises from and partially contained within |
|
AME |
- primary eyes anterior median eyes. These aremorphologically distinct
from other eyes and are often reduced or absent. |
|
AMS |
- anterior median spinnerets. Present only in some mesothelae; absent
in mygalomorphae; represented by cribellum or colulus in
Araneomorphae. |
|
Anal tubercle |
- a small process, dorsal to the spinnerets, carrying the anal
opening. |
|
Angulate |
- having an angular form. |
|
Annulations |
- rings of pigmentation, usually around the legs. |
|
Annuli |
- transverse wrinkles on an epigynal scape, rings. |
|
Anteriad |
- towards the anterior end, front. |
|
Anterior |
- nearest the front, or head. Also used in combination, e.g.
anteroventral for an example. |
|
Anterior eye row (AER) |
- the anteriormost row of eyes, usually consisting of the anterior
median and anterior lateral eyes. |
|
Anterior lateral spinnerets (ALS) |
- anterior spinnerets, absent in most Mygalomorphae: large in
Araneomorphae. |
|
Anterodorsal |
- towards the front of the dorsal (or top) surface of body or
appendage. Anterodorsal view. |
|
Anterolateral |
- pertaining to the anterior end and the side |
|
Anteromesal |
- pertaining to the anterior end and the midline. |
|
Anteroventral |
- towards the front of the ventral (or underside) surface of body or
appendage. Anteroventral view. |
|
Apical |
- distal, towards the terminal portion of an appendage (away from the
body). |
|
Apical division |
- that part of the genital bulb of the male palpus comprising the
conductor, embolus, and associated structures. |
|
Apodeme |
- external skeleton process. |
|
Apomorphic |
- derived or advanced. |
|
Apophysis (pl. apophyses) |
- cuticular or sclerotized projection, common on palpal segments,
including femur, patella or tibia of the palp. |
|
Araneophagous |
- spider eating |
|
Arboreal |
- tree dwelling. |
|
Arcuate |
- curved like a bow or arc-shaped. |
|
Arthrodial membrane |
- flexible membranes between joints, body sclerites and other
appendages. |
|
Atrial |
- pertaining to the atrium. |
|
Atrium |
- a cavity in the epigynal plate having the copulatory openings of the
female in its floor or wall; it may be subdivided by a median septum. |
|
Attenuate |
- tapering into a long point. |
|
Autospasy |
- the loss of a leg or appendage at a locus of weakness; usually
occurs at the coxa-trochanter joint but sometimes occurs instead at
the patella-tibia joint. |
|
Autotomize |
- removal of appendage by spider. |
|
autotomy |
- voluntary separation of appendage or leg. |
|
Axis |
- a central line of symmetry of an organ or organism. |
|
Ballooning |
- the ability of spiders to fly! On long strands of silk caught by the
wind, often great height and distances can be achieved. |
|
Basal |
- pertaining to the base of an appendage or segment. |
|
Basal division |
- that part of the bulb of the male palpus comprising the sub-tegulum
and associated structures. |
|
Basitarsus |
- another name for metatarsus; the basal subdivision of the leg tarsus |
|
Bidentate |
- having two teeth. |
|
Bifid |
- forked or in two lobes by a cleft. |
|
Bifurcate |
- two-pronged. |
|
Bipartite |
- in two parts; split into two sections. |
|
Biseriate |
- arranged in two parallel rows. |
|
Blumenthal's tarsal organ |
- sense organs, usually pit-like, on dorsal surface of spider tarsi. |
|
Book lung cover |
- (branchial operculum) plate covering the book lung |
|
Book-lung |
- an air-filled cavity, containing thin vascular lamellae arranged
like the pages of a book, opening on the ventral side of the abdomen.
Most Araneomorphae have a single pair located anterolaterally of the
epigastric furrow; Mygalomorphae and Hypochilidae have a second pair
posterior of the epigastric furrow |
|
Boreal forest |
- the boreal forest is in fact a circumpolar belt that spans 10°
latitude. The western part of this forest stretches from Alaska and
the Rocky Mountains eastwards to the Great Lakes. Our study area
contains a 'arm' of forest reaching down from the north. This is a
close-canopied stand of predominantly forest of Jack Pine and old
growth spruce & fir. |
|
Boss |
- a smooth, rounded or slightly conical prominence. (=condyle) rounded
swelling located at the base of the chelicera |
|
Branchial operculum |
- book lung cover |
|
Bristles |
- small rigid hairs or small spines |
|
Bulb |
- ( = genital bulb = palpal organ) - the genital structure of the male
spider containing the sperm reservoir and attached to the palpal
tarusu; rarely fused to the tarsus, as in some Oonopidae, from which
it can be differentiated by lacking seta |
|
Bursa copulatrix |
- Latin term for female copulatory pouch |
|
Calamistrum (calamistra) |
- a comb of hairs on metatarsus IV of cribellate spiders; used for
combing out silk from the cribellum |
|
Capitate |
- linear structure having a distal swelling |
|
Caput |
- anterior ( = head ) portion of the carapace |
|
Carapace |
- the exoskeleton shield covering the dorsal surface of the
cephalothorax or prosoma. |
|
Cardiac mark |
- a lanceolate midline mark on the abdomen, anterodorsally, over the
heart. |
|
Carina |
- ridge or keel |
|
Catalepsy |
- feigning death. |
|
Caudal |
- towards the posterior end of the abdomen. |
|
Cavernicolous |
- living in caves or subterranean passages. |
|
Cephalic region |
- anterior ( = head ) portion of the carapace |
|
Cephalon |
- towards the posterior end |
|
Cephalothoracic junction |
- a furrow extending forwards and to the sides from the centre of the
carapace, marking the junction of the head and thoracic regions; or
cervical groove. |
|
Cephalothorax |
- the anterior of the two major divisions of the body of a spider; or
prosoma. |
|
Cervical grooves |
- shallow grooves separating the cephalic from the thoracic part of
the carapace |
|
chaetotaxy |
- the arrangement of the leg spines, particularly relation to
classification. |
|
Chelate |
- pincer-like; in spiders refers to the fused chelicerae of some
Haplogynae where the fang and lamina form a pincer |
|
Chelicerae |
- the pair of jaws consisting of a large basal segment (paturon) and
an apical fang |
|
Cheliceral extension |
- a pointed basal projection behind the clypeus, conspicuous in some
Theridiidae, Nesticidae, and Pholcidae |
|
Cheliceral furrow |
- ( = fang furrow) - the groove of the chelicera into which the fang
closes |
|
Cheliceral lamina |
- ( = lamella) - sclertized ridge on the cheliceral margin or mesal
surface; also a sclerite in the male palp of many Linyphiidae |
|
Cheliceral teeth |
- large and/or tiny tooth like projections on the cheliceral furrow
margins |
|
Chemoreception |
- sensing of chemical stimuli |
|
Chevron |
- V-shaped pattern |
|
Chilum |
- a small sclerite at the base of the chelicera ( under the clypeus) |
|
Chitinized |
- sclerotized, hardened or horny; not flexible or membranous. |
|
Chorion |
- the egg shell of arthropods. |
|
Clade |
- monophyletic group |
|
Cladogram |
- diagram derived from phylogenetic analysis illustrating evolutionary
relationships among groups |
|
Clasping spine |
- a type of mating spur consisting of an enlarged, curved spine that
articulates against the leg segment, as in Mysmenidae |
|
Clavate |
- club-shaped. |
|
Claw |
- a strong, curved, sharp-pointed process (often toothed) on the
distal extremity of a leg or females palp. |
|
Claw dentition |
- the pectinate ventral surface of most claws, arranged in either a
single (uniserial) or double (biserial) row of teeth |
|
Claw tuft |
- a bunch of hairs at the tip of the leg tarsus in those spiders with
two claws. |
|
Cline |
- a graded sequence of character expression (morphological or
behavioral) across a series of neighboring populations. |
|
Clypeus (adj. clypeal) |
- the area between the anterior row of eyes and the anterior edge of
the carapace. |
|
Cochlea |
- a pit at the tip of the epigynal scape found in some linyphiidae |
|
Colulate |
- having a colulus |
|
Colulus |
- a midline appendage or tubercle arising from just in front of the
anterior spinners in some spiders, a nonfunctional cribellum |
|
Concolorous |
- of a uniform color |
|
Conductor |
- a sclerite in the male palp which, when functional, serves to
support and guide the embolus in copulation. |
|
Condyle |
- a smooth, rounded protuderance sometimes present laterally near the
base of the chelicera. |
|
Congeneric |
- of the same genus |
|
congener |
- similar too |
|
Conglomerate |
- irregular aggregation or mass of objects |
|
Conical |
- cone shaped |
|
Connecting ducts |
- ducts in the female genitalia which connect the copulatory pores to
the spermathecae |
|
Conspecific |
- of the same species |
|
Contiguous |
- not separated |
|
Contralateral |
- on the opposite side. See also ipsilateral. |
|
Copulatory ducts |
- paired tubes leading inwards from the copulatory openings of the
female to the spermathecae, and receiving the embolus of the male in
copulation. |
|
Copulatory openings |
- external pores on the epigyna of entelgyne females |
|
Coriaceous |
- leathery in texture. |
|
Cosmopolitan |
- worldwide, occurring globally |
|
Coxa (pl. coxae; adj. coxal) |
- first segment of the leg or palp. |
|
Cribellate |
- pertaining to spiders in which the abdomen has a cribellum. |
|
Cribellum |
- a spinning organ in the form of a transverse plate, just in front of
the spinnerets in some cribellate spiders; homologue of the AMS |
|
Cryptozoic |
- living in hidden or concealed habitats |
|
Ctenidia |
- structures on the male palpapl tibia of some Dictynidae consisting
of a short process bearing diminutive stout spines |
|
Cusps |
- short thick spines on the legs of some spiders |
|
Cuspules |
- small spines on the endites and labium of Mygalomorphae |
|
Cuticle |
- the outer layer of the integument, skin or body wall. |
|
Cymbium (pl. cymbia; adj. cymbial) |
- the broadened, hollowed-out tarsus of the male palp to which the
palpal bulb is attached. |
|
Cytotoxic |
- toxins such as some spider venoms that attack cells |
|
Declivity |
- sloping downward |
|
Dentate |
- toothed. |
|
Diad |
- a pair of two contiguous eyes |
|
Diaxial |
- ( = labidognathous) - downward projecting chelicerae with the fangs
operating along the transverse axis (like scissors); present in
Araneomorphae |
|
Dichotomous key |
- an arrangement of diagnostic characters for the identification of
organisms using alternative choices |
|
Digitiform |
- fingerlike |
|
Dionychous, dionycha |
- pertaining to those groups of spiders in which the leg tarsus bears
only two claws. |
|
Distal |
- farthest away from the body, or situated at the outer edge. |
|
Distitarsus |
- another name for metatarsus, distal subdivision of the leg tarsus. |
|
Distomesad |
- farthest from the base. |
|
Distomesal |
- pertaining to the tip and midline. |
|
Divergent |
- structures whose distance apart increases distally |
|
Diverticular |
- extensions of the digestive system |
|
Dorsal |
- towards the dorsum. |
|
Dorsal groove |
- a median furrow, or groove, on the carapace marking the presence of
an ingrowth of the body wall on which the dilator muscles of the
sucking stomach are attached. |
|
Dorsal view |
- viewed from above. Note that in the case of the epigyne which is
normally viewed ventrally, to view its dorsal side one must detach it
and view it from 'behind'. |
|
Dorsomesal |
- towards the middle of the top of the body or appendage |
|
Dorsum (adj. dorsal) |
- the back or upper surface. |
|
Eclose |
- to emerge from a egg |
|
Ecotonal |
- a transitional zone between two habitats. |
|
Ecribellate |
- pertaining to spiders in which the abdomen has no cribellum. |
|
Ectal margin |
- the outer margin of the cheliceral furrow in Mygalomorphae |
|
Ectal view |
- from the outside, example; male palps are a paired asymmetrical
structure, often viewed in the ectal view; away from the midline of
the body |
|
Edentate |
- untoothed |
|
Edysis |
- moulting; the periodic act of casting off the outer layers of skin
or integument. |
|
Electrophoresis |
- a technique in which molecules of, for instance, a venom, are
separated by passing an electric field through the substance held in a
buffer, such as a gel. The particles, having differing charges and
molecular weights diffuse at varying rates and form bands on the gel. |
|
Emarginate |
- having a notched margin. |
|
Embolic division |
- in the Linyphiidae, the terminal portion of the palpal bulb,
consisting of the radix, embolus and various accessory sclerites. It
is attached to the suprategulum by a narrow stalk |
|
Embolus (pl.emboli; adj. embolic) |
- the terminal portion of the ejaculatory duct and its opening in the
male palp. |
|
Emerit's gland |
- oval cuticular glands found on the appendages of some spiders (e.g.,
Cybaeidae, Leptonetidae, Telemidae) |
|
Endemic |
- restricted to a particular region or habitat |
|
Endite |
- ( = maxilla = gnathocoxa = gnathobase) - the expanded lobe of the
palpal coxa situated laterally of the labium |
|
Endogean |
- occurring beneath the surface ( as opposed to epigean ) |
|
Entelegyne spiders |
- true spiders; spiders with female epigynum and complex male palpal
organ. Also refers to the clade, Entelegynae, which includes the vast
majority of living spiders |
|
Entrance ducts |
- paired tubes leading inwards from the copulatory openings of the
female to the spermathecae, and receiving the embolus of the male in
copulation. |
|
Ephemeral |
- short lived |
|
Epigastric furrow |
- a fold and groove separating the region of the book lungs and
epigyne from the more posterior portion of the ventral abdomen. |
|
Epigastric plates |
- (branchial operculum) plate covering the book lung |
|
Epigean |
- occurring on the surface ( as opposed to endogean ) |
|
Epigyne (epigynum) |
- a more or less sclerotized and modified external structure covering
the female reproductive openings. In most spiders. |
|
Epistome |
- an outgrowth of the body wall at the base of the labrum and partly
covering the preoral cavity in front; thought to be the morphological
equivalent of the insect clypeus. |
|
Ethology |
- the study of animal behaviour in natural surroundings, including the
causes of behaviour, its function and its development. |
|
Ethospecies |
- species distinguished mainly by behavioral traits. |
|
Exudate |
- a fluid which has, by oozing, escaped from or been secreted by
certain tissues or organs of the body. Such fluid, often a mixture of
protein and cells, frequently dries or coagulates to form a solid,
irregular mass. |
|
Exuvia |
- outer layers of the integument cast at ecdysis. |
|
Eye formula |
- represents the eye distribution starting with the anterior row (
e.g., "4-2-2" means 4 eyes in the anterior row 2 eyes in the middle
row and 2 eyes in the posterior row ) |
|
Eye tubercale |
- mygalomorphs, eye turret, eyes grouped together on a turret |
|
Fang |
- claw-like distal segment of the chelicera; near its tip opens the
duct from the poison gland. |
|
Fang furrow |
- a depression along the distomesal surface of the chelicera that
receives the folded fang. |
|
Femoral spot |
- sclerotized spot of unknown function located ventrally and
subapically on femur I and sometimes femur II, usually on females but
can be present on males, as in Mysmenidae |
|
Femur (pl. femora; adj. femoral) |
- the third segment of the leg or palp, outward from the body, located
between the trochanter and patella |
|
Fertilization ducts |
- ducts leading from the female's spermathecae, through which stored
sperm is passed to fertilize the eggs. |
|
Fickert's gland |
- a swelling of the sperm duct within the embolus found in some
Linyphiidae |
|
Filiform |
- thread-shaped |
|
Fissidentate |
- teeth with multiple points |
|
Flocculent |
- woolly. |
|
Fluvial deposits |
- formed by flow of water. |
|
Folium |
- a pattern of pigment on the dorsum of the abdomen which is often
leaf-shaped. |
|
Foothills Parkland |
- the Foothills Parkland is one of the warmest and driest region in
our study area and occurs at the lowest elevations. The Foothills
Parkland Ecoregion is characterized by a landscape mosaic of (Festuca
scabrella) rough fescue grassland and aspen grooves (Populus
tremuloides). This ecoregion occurs in a limited area in Canada and
the USA, occupying a narrow band along the eastern edge of the
foothills from Calgary south to the Porcupine hills, and from Pincher
Creek south to the USA border. Waterton Lakes National Park is the
only Canadian national park in which this Ecoregion occurs. The
altitudinal range is from 1250-1500 m. |
|
Form |
- a recognizable minor variant of a population or species, e.g.
Oedothorax gibbosus f. tuberosus. |
|
Fossa |
- deep pit |
|
Fossorial |
- digging or burrowing |
|
Fovea (pl. foveae; adj. foveal) |
- a short median groove on the thoracic part of the carapace, situated
just above the internal attachment of the gastric muscles. |
|
Fulcrum |
- a structure that serves as a support for another structure |
|
Furrow |
- a short median groove on the thoracic part of the carapace, situated
just above the internal attachment of the gastric muscles. |
|
Fused chelicerae |
- chelicerae that are joined mesally, at least along the base (as in
some Haplogynae) |
|
Geniculate |
- bent, knee-like; usually pertains to chelicerae in which the basal
segment (paturon) extends beyond the clypeus giving the chelicerae a
bent appearance |
|
Genital bulb |
- the copulatory apparatus lying within the alveolus of the cymbium on
the male palp. |
|
Genital groove |
- another name for epigastric furrow a transverse groove between the
first pair of book-lungs in which lie the openings of the internal
genitalia, of both sexes. |
|
Genus (pl. genera. Adj. generic) |
- a taxonomic rank of closely related forms, subdivided into speices |
|
Glabrous |
- smooth and shiny; refers to cuticle without hairs or spines |
|
Glacial lacustrine deposits |
- related to a lake. |
|
Globose |
- rounded, spherical |
|
Gnathobase |
- ( = maxilla = gnathocoxa = gnathobase) - the expanded lobe of the
palpal coxa situated laterally of the labium |
|
Gnathocoxa |
- ( = maxilla = gnathocoxa = gnathobase) - the expanded lobe of the
palpal coxa situated laterally of the labium |
|
Gonopore |
- the genital opening, located in the middle of the epigastric furrow |
|
Gossamer |
- a light, gauzy film of spider's silk, often enhanced by dew. |
|
Guanin, guanine |
- fatty tissue, chalky white in colour, associated with the intestinal
diverticula; often abundant subcutaneously in the abdomen, especially
dorsally, and showing through unpigmented cuticle as conspicuous white
markings. |
|
Gynandromorph |
- a spider exhibiting gynandry. |
|
Gynandry |
- an abnormal state, in adult spiders, in which parts of the body and
genitlia are female and part male and in which the male and female
components are themselves normally developed. |
|
Habitus |
- general appearance |
|
Hackle band |
- a batch of silk threads, hackled into a broad band of silk, by the
cribellum and calamistrum |
|
Haplogyne |
- spiders in which the female has no visible epigynum, and the male
has a simple palpal organ |
|
Head |
- that part of the cephalothorax anterior to the cephalothorax
junction. |
|
Heamatodocha |
- a ballon of elastic connective tissue, between groups of sclerites
in the male palp, which distends with blood during copulation causing
the palpal sclerites to separate and rotate. There may be up to three
haematodochae-refered to as proximal, middle and distal separating
three groups of sclerites. |
|
Hemocyanin |
- oxygen carrying molecule, pigment in the hemolymph |
|
Hemolymph |
- body fluid |
|
Hirsute |
- hairy |
|
Holotype |
- also known as the type specimen. The original, individual specimen
from which the species was first described. See LECTOTYPE, PARATYPE,
SYNTYPE. |
|
Hood |
- a pocketlike cavity at the anterior end of the epigynum of some
female spiders (as in Lycosidae) |
|
Hub |
- center platform of an orb web |
|
Hyaline |
- translucent or transparent |
|
Hydric |
- relating to an abundance of moisture. |
|
Hygric |
- relating to moisture |
|
Hygrorecption |
- sensing water or moisture gradients |
|
Incrassate |
- thickened |
|
Inferior claw |
- ( = median claw) - the third claw (not paired) located apically on
the tarsus; absent from male palpi |
|
Instar |
- a developmental stage prior to adulthood |
|
Integument |
- the covering layer of tissue, including the cuticle (skin) and
exoskeleton. |
|
Intercalary sclerite |
- a sclerite located between the tegulum and the terminal apophysis
and partially covered by the subtegulum |
|
Intercoxal sclerites |
- narrow sclerites between the coxa |
|
Intersex |
- a spider exhibiting intersexuality. |
|
Intersexuality |
- an abnormal state, in adult spiders, in which parts of the body and
genitlia are female and part male and in which the male and female
components are themselves not fully expressed or developed. |
|
Intromittent organ |
- external male sexual organ |
|
Ipsilateral |
- on the same side. |
|
Irregular web |
- space web of scaffold threads |
|
Isolating mechanism |
- the intrinsic, (hereditary) differences between species that prevent
than interbreeding in nature. Examples are courtship behaviour, timing
of sexual maturity and differences in local habitat. |
|
Jizz |
- silhouette, shape and behavior of a spider |
|
Keel |
- a serrated ridge, truncated outgrowth of the cheliceral margin |
|
kleptoparasite |
- spider living in another spider's web and stealing its host's food |
|
krummholz |
- stunted, wind-trimmed trees between the timber and tree lines on
mountains. |
|
Labidognath |
- another name for an Araneomorphae true spider |
|
Labiosternal junction |
- the boundary between the labium and sternum |
|
Labium (pl. labia; adj. labial) |
- the lower lip, ventral to the mouth, lying between the maxillae and
the attached to the anterior border of the sternum. |
|
Labral cone |
- ( = labral spur) - a short projection from the labrum of certain
spiders (Anapidae) |
|
Labrum |
- the upper lip, which is appended to the epistome, with the
combination forming the rostrum. |
|
Lacustrine |
- relating to lakes, formed in. |
|
Lamella (pl. lamellae) |
- any thin, flattened process or leaf-like plate; as present in the
male palp of some spiders and in the book-lungs. |
|
Lamelliform |
- leaf shaped |
|
Lanceolate |
- shaped like a lance |
|
Lapus calami |
- Latin term used in nomenclature meaning literally "a slip of the
pen" for an inadvertent textual error made by the author rather than e
typographical error |
|
Lateral claws |
- paired claws |
|
Lateral ocular quadrangle |
- (LOQ) - the total area occupied by the lateral eyes |
|
Lateral view |
- from the side, viewing the bilaterally symmetrical. |
|
Laterigrade |
- denotes the orientation of the legs of some spiders, which are
rotated on their bases so that the prolateral surface is uppermost;
also describes the mode of locomotion of such spiders, mainly in the
family Thomisidae. |
|
LE |
- lateral eyes |
|
Lectotype |
- one of a type series subsequently designated to replace lost
holotype or when no holotype was designated at the time of publication
of type description. |
|
Leg formula |
- a series of four numbers (e.g., 2143) that give the relative leg
lengths, from the longest to the shortest |
|
Leg numbering |
- legs are numbered using Roman numerals, as I, II, III, IV, starting
with the anterior leg; for an example, tibia III refers to the tibia
of leg III |
|
Lip |
- the lower lip, ventral to the mouth, lying between the maxillae and
the attached to the anterior border of the sternum. |
|
Lobe |
- a rounded outgrowth of the cheliceral margin |
|
Longitudinal |
- lying parallel to the midline of the body. |
|
LOQ |
- lateral ocular quadrangle |
|
Lorum |
- the tergum of the pedicel. |
|
Lower Sub-Alpine |
- the Lower Sub-Alpine is characterized by closed coniferous forest
and its altitude range extends from the Montane-Sub-alpine boundary
from about 1650 m to 1950 m. Older forest are dominated by Engelmann
spruce (Picea engelmannii) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa).
Younger, post-fire forest of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) are
widespread in the Lower Sub-Alpine, although many pine trees were
killed during a mountain pine beetle epidemic in the 1980's. |
|
Lunate |
- crescent-shaped |
|
Macroseta |
- an erectile seta that arises from a membranous area on the legs and
palp. |
|
Maculate |
- spotted |
|
Mastidion |
- a tooth on the cheliceral face |
|
Mating spur |
- a rigid cuticular outgrowth, with or without apical spines, found on
the anterior legs of some male spiders and used as a restraining
structure during copulation |
|
Maxillae (adj. maxillary) |
- the mouthparts ventral to the mouth and lateral to the labium, which
are modified coxae of the palps. |
|
ME |
- median eyes |
|
Mechanoreception |
- sensing movement, tension or pressure |
|
Median |
- in the middle or midline. |
|
median apophysis |
- a sclerite arising from, or associated with, the tegulum and forming
part of the middle division of the palpal bulb. |
|
Median claw |
- the third claw (not paired) located apically on the tarsus; absent
from male palpi |
|
Median lobe |
- the lobe-like protuberance along the midline of some epigyna |
|
Median ocular area, MOA |
- (MOA = median ocular area = or quadrangle) - area encompassed by the
four median eyes |
|
Median ocular quadrangle, MOQ |
- (MOQ = median ocular quadrangle = or area) - area encompassed by the
four median eyes |
|
median septum |
- a raised longitudinal piece on the floor of the atrium of the
epigynum. |
|
Median spinnerets, MS |
- the innermost pair of spinnerets, typically small |
|
Megaspine |
- a rigid cuticular outgrowth with a large apical spine |
|
Merovoltine |
- >1 year/generation |
|
mesad |
- toward the midline. |
|
Mesal margin |
- the innermargin of the cheliceral furrow in Mygalomorphae |
|
mesal view |
- view from inside, with paired asymmetrical structure (e.g. male
palp). |
|
mesic |
- relating to a moderate amount of water. |
|
metatarsus (pl. metatarsi; adj. metatarsal) |
- the six segment of the leg, counting from the body end, not found in
the palps. |
|
middle division |
- that part of the bulb of the male palpus comprising the tegulum and
associated structures. |
|
MOA |
- median ocular area |
|
Monophyletic |
- group of organisms sharing a common ancestor |
|
Monotypic |
- taxon with only one subordinate member, as a genus composed of only
one species |
|
Montane Ecoregion |
- the Montane Ecoregion occurs along the foothills from the USA
border, north through the Porcupine Hills, and then further north as a
series of disjoint occurrences in major river valleys. The most
northerly are to be found along the Athabasca River in Jasper National
Park. To the east, portions of the Cypress Hills also form an isolated
occurrence of Montane. Also other isolated occurrence are to be found
in Kootenay National park and Yoho National Park. |
|
MOQ |
- (MOQ = median ocular quadrangle = or area) - area encompassed by the
four median eyes |
|
morainal deposits |
- material laid down by ice. |
|
morph |
- a recognizable minor variant of a population or species, e.g.
Oedothorax gibbosus f. tuberosus. |
|
Morphology |
- the form and structure or an organism |
|
morphospecies |
- species distinguished mainly by morphological characters. |
|
Multivoltine |
- >1generation/year |
|
Mygalomorphae |
- infraorder of spiders characterized by paraxial chelicerae and two
pairs of book lungs |
|
Myrmecomorph |
- resembling ants |
|
Myrmecophilous |
- thriving in association with ants. |
|
Nearctic |
- Temperate and arctic parts of North America, including Greenland |
|
Necrotic arachnidism |
- the result of envenomation by a spider such as loxosceles spp. in
which the toxin attacks the cells and the body tissues. See CYTOTOXIC |
|
Neurotoxic |
- toxins, such as some spider venoms that attack the nervous system.
Latrodectus toxin is neurotoxic. See CYTOTOXIC |
|
Nomen dubium |
- Latin term for scientific names of unknown or doubtful application |
|
Nomen nudum |
- Latin term for scientific names that could not be associated with
recognizable biological entity |
|
Nonclavate |
- not club-shaped. |
|
Notched trochanter |
- one with a shallow to deep ventroapical excavation |
|
Ocular quadrangle |
- the area enclosed by certain groups of eyes; e.g., the median ocular
quadrangle of spiders with eyes in two rows is the area enclosed by
the anterior median eyes and posterior median eyes. |
|
Onychium |
- apical extension of the tarsus that bears the tarsal claws,
prominent in Oonopidae and Ochyroceratidae |
|
Opistosoma |
- the posteriorof the two major divisions of the body of a spider;
often called the abdomen |
|
OQ |
- the area enclosed by certain groups of eyes; e.g., the median ocular
quadrangle of spiders with eyes in two rows is the area enclosed by
the anterior median eyes and posterior median eyes. |
|
Orthognathous |
- type of chelicerae that project forward with fangs articulating
along the longitudinal (vertical) axis ; present in Mesothelae and
Mygalomorphae |
|
Ostia |
- an aperture or opening |
|
Paired Claws |
- ( = superior claws = lateral claws) - found at the tip of the leg
tarsis of all spiders |
|
Palea |
- a convex usually rugose pad at the distal end of the genital bulb of
the palpus in some male spiders. |
|
Palpal bulb (or genital bulb) |
- a collective term for the structures making up the male palpal
organ. Arising from and partially contained within the alveolus of the
palpal cymbium. |
|
Palpal organ |
- ( = genital bulb) - the genital structure of the male spider
containing the sperm reservoir and attached to the palpal tarusu;
rarely fused to the tarsus, as in some Oonopidae, from which it can be
differentiated by lacking seta |
|
Palp-coxal lobes |
- the paired lobes on the prolateral surfaces of the palpal coxae;
they form the sides of the preoral cavity. |
|
Palps (palpus) |
- the second appendage of the cephalothorax, originating behind the
chelicerae but in front of the legs; its coxa also forms the maxilla;
it lacks a metatarsal segment. I adult male spiders it is modified,
for sperm transfer. |
|
Palpus |
- ( = genital bulb) - the genital structure of the male spider
containing the sperm reservoir and attached to the palpal tarusu;
rarely fused to the tarsus, as in some Oonopidae, from which it can be
differentiated by lacking seta |
|
Paracymbium (pl. paracymbia; adj. paracymbial) |
- a structure branching from, or loosely attached to the cymbium. most
evident in the Linyphiidae. |
|
Paraembolar apophysis |
- an apophysis on the base of the embolus in some male spiders. |
|
Paramedian |
- along longitudinal axis |
|
Paraphyletic |
- a group of taxa that excludes one or more descendants of the common
ancestor |
|
Paratype |
- specimens of the type series other than the holotype. |
|
Paraxial |
- ( = orthognathous) - type of chelicerae that project forward with
fangs articulating along the longitudinal (vertical) axis; present in
Mesothelae and Mygalomorphae |
|
Parmula |
- in Linyphiidae, the process arising from the dorsal wall of the
epigynum; in some species dorsal to the scape. Also referred to as the
dorsal scape |
|
Pars cephalica |
- cephalic region |
|
Pars pendula |
- a thin flap along the margin of the embolus in some male spiders. |
|
Pars thoracia |
- thoracic region |
|
Parthenogentic |
- reproducing without males |
|
Patella (pl. patellae; adj. patellar) |
- the fourth segment of the leg or palp, from the body. |
|
Paturon |
- the basal segment of a chelicera |
|
Pectinate |
- comb like |
|
Pedicel |
- the narrow stalk connecting cephalothorax and the abdomen. |
|
Peg teeth |
- spine-like teeth on the chelicerae situated in sockets |
|
PER |
- posterior eye row |
|
Petiole |
- a slender sclerite in the bulb of the male palpus connecting the
sub-tegulum with the alveolar wall. |
|
Pheromone (adj. pheromonal) |
- a chemical, secreted in minute amounts, when released will affect
the behaviour of another animal, generally the opposite sex. |
|
Phylogeny |
- the evolutionary history of a group of organisms |
|
Pit |
- a short median groove on the thoracic part of the carapace, situated
just above the internal attachment of the gastric muscles. |
|
PLE |
- posterior lateral spinnerets |
|
Plumose |
- feathery. |
|
Pluridentate |
- with multiple teeth |
|
PME |
- posterior median eyes |
|
PMS |
- posterior median spinnerets |
|
Polyphyletic |
- a group of taxa based on convergence that excludes the common
ancestor |
|
Porrect |
- extending forward; in spiders refers to the projecting diaxial
chelicerae of certain Araneomorphae, as Dysderidae, to differentiate
them from the paraxial chelicerae of Mygalomorphae |
|
Posteriad |
- towards the posterior end. |
|
Posterior |
- back; toward the back. Posterior view |
|
Posterior eye row |
- (PER) |
|
Posterior lateral eyes |
- (PLE) |
|
Posterior lateral spinnerets |
- (PLS) - typically well developed |
|
Posterior median spinnerets |
- (PMS) - the innermost pair of spinnerets, typically small |
|
Posterior spinnerets |
- typically well developed |
|
Posterolaterad |
- towards the posterior end and the side. |
|
Posteromesad |
- towards the posterior end and the midline. |
|
Precoxal triangles |
- ( = precoxal sclerites) - triangular sclerotized extensions from the
sternum to the coxa |
|
Preening brush |
- a cluster of setae at the ventral tip of posterior metatarsi |
|
Preening comb |
- a transverse row of rigid setae located ventroapically on the
ventral tip of the posterior metatarsi |
|
Preoral cavity |
- the entrance passage anterior to the mouth, bounded anteriad by the
rostrum, laterad by the palp-coxal lobes, and posteriad by the labium. |
|
Pretarsus |
- the seventh or terminal segment of a leg or palpus; bearing the
claws. |
|
Primary eyes |
- anterior median eyes. These aremorphologically distinct from other
eyes and are often reduced or absent. |
|
Process |
- outgrowth of surface, margin, or appendage |
|
Procurved |
- curved as an arc having its ends anterior to its centre. |
|
Procusus |
- retrolateral paracymbium found in pholcids |
