Selected terms
Carapace - dorsal shield of the cephalothorax.
Epigynum - sclerotized external female genital structure; species diagnostic.
Scopula - dense tuft of adhesive hairs on the tarsus; allows climbing smooth surfaces.
Calamistrum / cribellum - silk-combing structures used by cribellate spiders to produce woolly capture silk.
Trichobothria - long sensory hairs on the legs that detect air currents.
References
- [1]Spider Myths - Burke Museum, University of Washington. Accessed June 2026.
Related in Reference
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- Common US spider families - quick referenceDiagnostic summary of the ten spider families most often encountered in and around US homes, with the key trait that distinguishes each at first sight..
- Spider bite versus other arthropod bitesMost presumed spider bites are caused by other arthropods or by infection.