Silhouettella loricatula (Arachnida, Araneae, Oonopidae): a Haplogyne spider with complex female genitalia

Journal of Morphology
Matthias BurgerChristian Kropf

Abstract

The female genital system of the oonopid Silhouettella loricatula is astonishingly complex. The genital opening is situated medially and leads into an oval receptaculum that is heavily sclerotized except for the ventral half of the posterior wall that appears chitinized only. A large striking sclerite lying in the posterior wall of the uterus externus is attached anteriorly to the receptaculum and continues dorsally into a globular appendix that bears a furrow. The uterus externus shows a peculiar modification in its anterior wall: a paddle-like sclerite with a nail-like posterior process. This sclerite lies opposite to the furrow proceeding in the globular appendix and may serve females to lock the uterus externus by muscle contractions. Massive muscles connect the sclerite with the anterior scutum of the opisthosoma and with two other sclerites that are attached to the receptaculum and serve as attachments for further muscles. Gland cells extend around a pore field of the receptaculum. They produce secretion that encloses spermatozoa in a discrete package (secretory sac) inside the receptaculum. In this way, the mixing of sperm from different males and thus sperm competition may be severely limited or completely prevented. Du...Continue Reading

References

Oct 21, 2000·Journal of Clinical Pathology·S A MorréH W Niessen
Mar 9, 2005·Current Biology : CB·Martin KaltenpothErhard Strohm
Aug 13, 2005·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Bernhard A Huber
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Citations

Jan 10, 2012·Journal of Insect Science·Matías A Izquierdo, Gonzalo D Rubio
Feb 9, 2010·Zoology : Analysis of Complex Systems, ZACS·Matthias BurgerPatricia Carrera
Nov 27, 2009·Zoology : Analysis of Complex Systems, ZACS·Matthias Burger
Jul 24, 2010·Journal of Insect Physiology·Diana Pérez-StaplesPhillip W Taylor
Sep 2, 2011·Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista Brasleira De Biologia·A MargrafM A M Soares

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