Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Spiny-backed spider (Gasteracantha sp.). Spiders of the Gasteracantha genus have hard, flat bodies. Thr

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Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Spiny-backed spider (Gasteracantha sp.). Spiders of the Gasteracantha genus have hard, flat bodies. Three pairs of spines project from the edge of cephalothorax (abdomen). Spiny-backed spiders build vertical orb-webs that have open hubs. A male spiny-backed spider has a small abdominal gonopore from which sperm is discharged. However, actual mating organs are located on leg-like limbs called palps (or pedipalps) that are located between the jaw and first leg. In a mature male the last segment of the palp (tarsus) is a large, articulated sperm-holding reservoir and mating organ. Magnification: x6 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.

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Size: 3302px × 2646px
Photo credit: © DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 20376b, abdomen, arachnid, arachnids, araneae, araneidae, carapace, cephalothorax, colored, coloured, dorsal, electron, exoskeleton, false-colored, false-coloured, gasteracantha, gland, gossamer, invertebrate, invertebrates, micrograph, orb, orb-weaver, orb-weavers, palps, piriform, reproduction, scanning, sem, silk, sperm, spider, spiders, spigot, spinneret, spiny, spiny-backed, weaver, weavers, web