Dictionary > Pedipalp

Pedipalp

Definition
noun, plural: pedipalps
Either of the second pair of appendages located laterally to the chelicerae and anteriorly to the first pair of walking legs of the Chelicerates (e.g. arachnids, horseshoe crabs, etc.)
Supplement
Chelicerates, such as arachnids, sea spiders, and horseshoe crabs, are known for having segmented bodies with paired jointed limbs or appendages. One of the paired appendages is a pair of pedipalps.
Chelicerates have a pair of pedipalps located on the body segment (i.e. segment three) near the mouth. Particularly, the pedipalps are found laterally to the chelicerae, in front of the first walking legs of the Chelicerates. Chelicerae are another pair of appendages of the Chelicerates that are found on segment two, ahead of the mouth. Next to the chelicerae are the pedipalps that arise from segment three, i.e. behind the mouth. A pedipalp is comprised of six segments: (1) coxa (2) trochanter, (3) femur, (4) patella, (5) tibia, and (6) tarsus. The pedipalps may be modified to perform a range of functions including food manipulation and sensing, locomotion, defense, and reproduction.
Spider pedipalps have specialized coxae called gnathobases or maxillae. These specialized structures function as mouthparts of the spiders. Apart from the specialized coxae, the spider pedipalps may be characterized by having an undivided tarsus as well as pretarsus lacking in lateral claws. Furthermore, the tarsi of the male spider pedipalps have a palpal bulb used to inseminate the seminal receptacles of female spiders during mating.
Also called:

  • palp
  • palpus

See also:

  • chelicera
  • chelicerate
  • appendage


  • You will also like...

    mRNA
    Protein Synthesis

    Part of the genetic information is devoted to the synthesis of proteins. mRNA, a type of RNA, is produced as a transcri..

    Biosecurity and Biocontrol
    Biosecurity and Biocontrol

    This lesson explores the impact of biosecurity threats, and why they need to be identified and managed. Examples to incl..

    Sugar Homeostasis
    Sugar Homeostasis

    The blood sugar level is regulated by two hormones. The mechanism behind this type of negative feedback control is descr..

    Kidneys
    Kidneys and Regulation of Water and Inorganic Ions

    The kidneys are responsible for the regulation of water and inorganic ions. Read this tutorial to learn about the differ..

    Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung
    Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung

    In this tutorial, the works of Carl Gustav Jung and Sigmund Freud are described. Both of them actively pursued the way h..

    The process of photosynthesis
    Photosynthesis – Photolysis and Carbon Fixation

    Photosynthesis is the process that plants undertake to create organic materials from carbon dioxide and water, with the ..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics