Glossary
|
Word |
Definition |
|
Abdomen (adj.
Abdominal |
- the posterior of
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 |
|
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, epigeal |
- 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. |
|
Epiphytic |
- living within a
plants structure. |
|
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 |
|
Hypogeal |
- living beneath
the surface of the ground |
|
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 |
|
Prograde |
- denotes the
normal or nonlaterigrade orientation of the legs in spiders with limbs not
rotated on their bases; also used to describe the mode of locomotion of such
spiders. |
|
Prolateral |
- of leg spines =
on the side, directed forwards; in an imaginary state of all the legs
straight out from the side, at right angles to the long axis of the body. |
|
Prolaterobasad |
- towards the
prolateral side and the base. |
|
Prolateromesad |
- towards
theprolateral side and the midline. |
|
Prolateroventrad |
- towards the
prolateral side and the venter. |
|
Promargin |
- the anterior
margin of the fang furrow. |
|
Promarginal |
- on the anterior
margin |
|
Prosoma |
- the anterior of
the two major divisions of the body of a spider; or cephalothorax. |
|
Proximal |
- closest to the
body, or inner end. |
|
Pubescent |
- bearing fine
setae |
|
Punctate |
- with impressed
points or punctures |
|
Pyriform |
- pear shaped. |
|
Race |
- an intraspecific
unit the members of which exhibit common biological, ecological,
physiological or geographical characteristics which differ slightly from
other members of the species. |
|
Radix |
- sclerotized
apophysis of the male palp |
|
Ramus |
- a branch of a
structure (e.g., in Salticidae) |
|
Rastellum |
- a series of
stout setae forming a digging structure on the chelicerae of certain
spiders. |
|
Rebordered labium |
- one which is
thicker apically than basally |
|
Recumbent |
- lying down
against another structure, as in 'recumbent hair' |
|
Recurved |
- curved as an arc
having its ends posterior to its centre. |
|
Relict |
- a persistent
remnant of an otherwise extinct taxon |
|
Repugnatorial
glands |
- glands that
secrete noxious compounds |
|
Reticulate |
- covered with a
network of lines or ridges; meshed |
|
Retrolateral |
- of leg spines =
on the side, directed backwards; in an imaginary state of all the legs
straight out from the side, at right angles to the long axis of the body. |
|
Retrolateral
tibial apophysis |
- ( = RTA) |
|
Retrolaterobasad |
- towards the
retrolateral side and the base. |
|
Retrolaterodisted |
- towards the
retrolateral side and the tip. |
|
Retromargin |
- the posterior
margin of the fang furrow. |
|
Rostrum |
- the combined
epistome and labrum, which together cover the pre-oral cavity anteriad. |
|
RTA |
- a sclerotized
process on the retrolateral face of the male palpal tibia |
|
Rugose |
- having a
wrinkled surface. |
|
Saprolite |
- disintegrated
rock that lies in its original place. |
|
Scales |
- flattened hairs
of various shapes |
|
Scape |
- a finger,
tongue, or lip-like appendage, free at one end, arising from the midline of
the females epigyne. |
|
Sclerite |
- a discrete
sclerotized structure, |
|
Sclerotization |
- the process of
becoming sclerotized, or thickened and hardened |
|
Sclerotized |
- hardened or
horny; not flexible or membranous. |
|
Scopula (pl.
scopulae) |
- a brush of hairs
on the ventral aspect of the tarsus and metatarsus in some spiders. |
|
Scutum (pl. scuta) |
- a sclerotized
plate occurring on the abdomen of some spiders. |
|
Secondary eyes |
- all eyes other
than the anterior median eyes; only these may have the tapetum layer and
appear shiny |
|
Segment |
- one of a series
of ring-like divisions into which the body or an appendage is divided. |
|
Semidixial |
- chelicerae
intermediate between the diaxial condition of araneomorphs and the paraxial
of mygalomorphs, as in Hypochilidae |
|
Seminal duct |
- a tube that
conducts the semen from the interior of the male palpus to the embolus. |
|
Seminal
receptacles |
- paired sacs,
forming part of the internal female genitalia, which receive and store
spermatozoa, spermathecae. |
|
Senescence |
- the process of
aging |
|
Sensu lato |
- in the broad
sense |
|
Sensu stricto |
- in the strict
sense |
|
Septum |
- a partition
separating two cavities or parts. |
|
Serrated |
- saw-like. |
|
Serrula |
- a row of tiny
teeth along the anterior edge of the endite |
|
Seta (pl. setae) |
- a bristle like
outgrowth of the cuticle secreted by a single cell and supplied with a
nerve; setae may be modified in shape, e.g., flattened or club like. |
|
Setose |
- bearing setae |
|
Sexual dimorphism |
- the condition
where there are marked differences in coloration, patterning, form and/or
size between the sexes of the same species. |
|
Sigillum (pl.
sigilla) |
- an impressed
sclerotized spot, usually reddish-brown in colour, pairs of which are often
present on the abdomen. |
|
Sinuate |
- S-shaped or wavy
structure |
|
Slit sense organs |
- stress or strain
receptors in the exoskeleton |
|
Somatic |
- pertaining to
the body or soma, distinct from the genitalia. |
|
Spatulate |
- flattened
club-shape. |
|
Spermatheca (pl.
spermathecae) |
- paired sacs,
forming part of the internal female genitalia, which receive and store
spermatozoa, |
|
Spermathecal ducts |
- paired tubes
leading inwards from the copulatory openings of the female to the
spermathecae, and receiving the embolus of the male in copulation. |
|
Spermathecal organ |
- a small
prominence at or near the junction of copulatory tube and spermatheca. |
|
Spiderling |
- the nymphal or
immature stage of a spider; able to move about and no longer dependent on
the yolk for nourishment. |
|
Spigot |
- a spinning tube,
projecting from the tip of the spinnerets. |
|
Spine |
- a fixed, usually
pointed, rise in the body wall. |
|
Spiniform |
- spin-shaped |
|
Spinnerets |
- paired
appendages at the posterior end of the abdomen, through its spigots silk is
extruded. |
|
Spinose |
- bearing spines |
|
Spinule |
- small spine |
|
Spiracle |
- the opening of
the tracheae on the ventral side of the body. |
|
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 |
|
Squamiform |
- scale-like. |
|
Sternum (adj.
Sternal |
- shield covering
to the ventral side of the cephalothorax, lying posterior to the labium and
between the leg coxae, often heart or oval shaped. |
|
Stretcher |
- a pit at the tip
of the epigynal scape found in some linyphiidae |
|
Stria |
- linear marks,
streaks, ridges or furrows. Part of the stridulating system or marks
radiating from the central fovea on the carapace. |
|
Stridulating organ |
- an area with
numerous sclerotized, parallel striae which are rubbed by hairs or a tooth
on an opposing structure thus creating sound. can be located on the palps,
legs, chelicerae, abdomen or the carapace. |
|
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. See also thorn |
|
Sub species |
- in taxonomy, a
subdivision of a species, usually geographically restricted and with minor
morphological differences but physically capable of interbreeding with the
species. See VARIETY |
|
Sub-Alpine
Ecoregion |
- the Sub-Alpine
Ecoregion is divided into the Lower and Upper Sub Alpine Regions. They both
occur above the Montane Ecoregion and below the unforested Alpine Ecoregion. |
|
Subcutaneous |
- situated just
below the cuticle or skin. |
|
Subtegulum |
- the sclerite
that forms the most proximal of the three divisions of the male palpal bulb;
often a ring- or cup-like structure, it is attached to the cymbium by the
proximal haematodocha. |
|
Subterminal
apophysis |
- a sclerotized
piece in the apical division of the bulb of male palpus. |
|
Subxeric |
- dry conditions,
little water, but some available. |
|
Sulcus |
- a groove or
furrow. |
|
Superior claws |
- ( = lateral
claws) - found at the tip of the leg tarsis of all spiders |
|
Suprategulum |
- in male
Linyphiidae, a sclerotized structure arising from the tegulum |
|
Suture |
- a groove in the
body wall. |
|
Sympatric |
- existing in the
same geographical range, as when two species share the same locale. See
ALLOPATRIC |
|
Synanthrope |
- an organism
associated with humans |
|
Synapomorphy |
- shared derived
character |
|
Syntype |
- each specimen in
a type series used to describe the species and from which no single specimen
has been designated as holotype or lectotype. |
|
TA |
- tibial apophysis |
|
Tailpiece |
- in male
Linyphiidae, a linear structure attached to the radix which generally points
towards the proximal end of the unexpanded palp |
|
Tapetum |
- a carpet or
sheath of cells behind the retina of the eye reflecting light that enters
the retina outward again, thus causing the shining of the eyes in faint
light. |
|
Tarsal claw |
- sharp curved
structure at the tip of the tarsus, typically on the palp and 2 or3 on the
legs |
|
Tarsal comb |
- a midventral
series of serrated setae on distitarsus IV of some spiders; e.g.,
Theridiidae = calamistrum. |
|
Tarsal organ |
- sense organs,
usually pit-like, on the dorsal surface of spider tarsi |
|
Tarsus (pl. tarsi;
adj. tarsal) |
- the most distal
segment of the leg or palp. |
|
Teeth |
- conical,
pointed, rigid outgrowths of the margins of the cheliceral furrow |
|
Tegulum (pl.
tegula; adj. tegular) |
- the sclerite
that forms, with the medium apophysis, the middle of the three divisions of
the male palpal bulb; often a broad ring-like structure. |
|
Tenent |
- enlarged seta
associated with tarsal claws |
|
Tergites |
- transverse
sclerites on the abdominal dorsum in Mesothelae and some Mygalomorphae often
flanked by strong setae, and representing the original segmented condition |
|
Tergum (pl, terga) |
- the dorsal wall
of a body segment. |
|
Terminal apophysis |
- a variously
shaped sclerite of the apical division of the genital bulb in the male
palpus. |
|
Thermoreception |
- sensing
temperature |
|
Thoracic groove |
- a short median
groove on the thoracic part of the carapace, situated just above the
internal attachment of the gastric muscles. |
|
Thorax (adj.
thoracic) |
- that part of the
cephalothorax posterior to the cephalthoracic junction. |
|
Thorn |
- small thick
pointed seta used with stridulatory file to produce sound |
|
Tibia (pl. tibiae) |
- the fifth
segment of the leg or palp from the proximal end. |
|
Tibial apophysis |
- ( = TA) - a
process on the male palpal tibia, most commonly retrolateral, but may occur
on other surfaces. See also retrolateral tibial apophysis, ventral tibial
apophysis |
|
Tibial spine
formula |
- indicates the
number of dorsal spines (1 or 2) on the tibia of legs I and IV, from front
to back, (example 2-2-1-1) and is used in identification of the Linyphiidae. |
|
Tm1 |
- this represents
the relative position of the trichobothrium along the length of the
metatarsus 1 expressed as a decimal fraction. This, and the presence or
absence of a trichobothrium on the forth metatarsus (TmIV), is used in the
identification of the Linyphiidae. |
|
Tooth |
- a spine found on
the chelicerae and assisting in feeding; also, a small outgrowth on the
paired claws of the leg in many spiders. |
|
Trachea |
- the internal
system of tubes through which air exchange takes place, thus supplementing
and sometimes replacing the book lungs; their openings are the spiracles. |
|
Trachea (pl.
tracheae; adj. tracheal) |
- paired tubes,
through which air is carried around the body and which opens at the
spiracle's). |
|
Tracheal spiracle |
- the opening to
the tracheal respiratory system |
|
Transverse |
- lying at right
angles to the midline of the body. |
|
Triad |
- a group of three
contiguous eyes |
|
Trichobothriotaxy |
- the arrangement
and position of the trichobothria, particularly in relation to
classification. |
|
Trichobothrium
(pl. trichobothria) |
- a long, fine
hair rising almost vertically from a hemispherical socket on the leg, which
detect air vibration and currents. |
|
Trifid |
- three pronged |
|
Trionychous,
trionycha |
- denotes groups
of spiders in which each leg tarsus has three claws. |
|
Trochanter |
- the second
segment of the leg or palp, counting from the proximal end. |
|
Troglobite |
- an organism that
only occurs in caves |
|
Troglophile |
- a facultative
cavernicole |
|
Truncate |
- squared rather
than rounded or pointed at the tip. |
|
Tubercle |
- a small, fixed,
usually rounded rise in the body wall; eyes may be located on tubercles. |
|
Tuberculate |
- having tubercles
or knob-like outgrowths on the body |
|
Type specimen |
- the specimen
that is used as the basis of a published species description |
|
Unidentate |
- with a single
tooth |
|
Univoltine |
- 1
generation/year |
|
Unpaired claw |
- ( = inferior
claw = median claw) - the third claw (not paired) located apically on the
tarsus; absent from male palpi |
|
Upper Sub-Alpine |
- the Upper
Sub-Alpine occurs from 1950-2250 m and is broadly ecotonal between Lower
Subalpine closed forest and the treeless Alpine tundra. Most characteristic
of the Upper Subalpine are the open forest and stunted trees (krummholz).
Typical vegetation include Sub Alpine Larch (Larix lyallii), and smooth
woodrush (Luzula hitchcockii); Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) is usually
absent. |
|
Urticating |
- irritating or
stinging; used to refer to barbed hairs of some mygalomorphs |
|
Van der Waal's
forces |
- a force between
non-polar molecules creating a temporary shift of orbital electrons between
the molecules resulting in polarization and attraction |
|
Variety |
- in taxonomy a
category at a lower level than subspecies, denoting organisms displaying a
variation of some kind within a species. |
|
Venom gland |
- the
venom-secreting gland within the chelicera or the cephalothorax, or both,
and opening on the cheliceral fang. |
|
Venter |
- the under
surface of the body. |
|
Ventral tibial
apophysis |
- ( = VTA) - a
sclerotized process on the ventral surface of the male palpal tibia, as in
some Philodromidae |
|
Ventral view |
- viewed from
below. |
|
Vestigial |
- a structure that
is a remnant |
|
Viscid |
- sticky |
|
Vulva (pl. vulvae) |
- sometimes used
as a term for the internal genital of the female spider. |
|
Xeric |
- dry conditions
in which plant growth may be limited by lack of water. |
Spider
School
