Using this Guide
Reading Entries
Each entry in this guide corresponds to a unique morphospecies.
A morphospecies is a species assignment based on the appearance of the specimen. In our lab, we assigned morphospecies based on both the appearance of the spider and the spiderweb. Our morphospecies codes consist of the lowest taxonomic rank determined for the species, along with a unique number for each morphospecies. For example, if we have three Cyclosa spiders that look different from each other, we will assign them the morphospecies ‘cyclosa.sp1,’ ‘cyclosa.sp2,’ and ‘cyclosa.sp3.’ If we have two Anapis spiders that look identical, we will assign them both the morphospecies ‘anapis.sp1.’
Web Type:
Which kind of web the spider builds. Either orb, tangle, or sheet-tangle.
Refuge:
Whether or not the spider builds a protective structure beside/on the web.
Spider Pictures
spider.sp1
2019.NRP.W7.14
2019.NRP.W7.14
Black-coloured spherical abdomen, with eight legs. Black-coloured cephalothorax. Black legs, chelicerae, eyes, and pedipalps. Leg 4 is much longer than other legs.
Locations: Place, Area, Country (elevation); Place, Area, Country (elevation)
YYYY.LLL.W0.00
YYYY.LLL.W0.00
YYYY.LLL.W0.00, YYY.LLL.W0.00, YYYY.LLL.W0.00, YYYY.LLL.W0.00, YYYY.LLL.W0.00
Description:
Detailed description of the appearance for members of the morphospecies.
Locations:
Places we have found spiders of this morphospecies.
Spider #
Year
YYYY.LLL.W0.00
Location
Transect #
Spider Codes:
The codes of spiders we have found of this morphospecies.
Taxonomy:
Here, the order, family, and genus of the morphospecies is provided. Sometimes, we do not know the family or genus, so those sections will remain blank. Clicking the box with order, family, or genus will take you to that page. All families are listed on the Araneae page.
Understanding Descriptions
The descriptions of morphospecies entries often contain terminology specific to spiders. In this section is a crash course on basic spider anatomy, as well as provide a glossary of terms.
Spinnerets
Dorsal View:
Abdomen
Cephalothorax
Pedipalp
Palpal Bulb (Males)
Chelicerae
Fangs
Femur
Patella
Tibia
Tarsus & Metatarsus
Claws
Posterior Median Eye
Posterior Lateral Eye
Anterior Lateral Eye
Anterior Median Eye
Ventral View:
Epigynum (Females)
Coxa
Glossary
Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Tarsus | The seventh (final) leg segment, attached to the metatarsus and claws. |
Tension Line | An extra silk line on a web used to pull the rest of the web taut. When prey approaches the web, the tension line is severed and the web rebounds like a slingshot. |
Tibia | The fifth leg segment, attached to the patella and metatarsus. It is typically long. |
Trashline | A collection of dirt and/or exoskeletons arranged on a web for defense. The spider either hides among the trashline, or uses the trashline as a decoy. |
Trochanter | The second leg segment, attached to the coxa and femur. It is typically quite short. |
Tubercule | A rounded nodule or protrusion extending from the abdomen. |
Ventral | The bottom side of the body. The part of the spider that can be viewed from below. |