1987/02/01 by William F. Humphreys, W. F. HUMPHREYS
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1987.tb00654.x
Analysis is presented of the characteristics of spheres coating the chorion surface of the eggs from 41 species belonging to 15 families of spiders. Examples of eggs from the arachnid orders Opiliones, Amblypygi and Uropygi are illustrated for the first time. The spheres are unique, among arachnids, to the Araneae. Their form and size class distributions overlap considerably between families and the spheres are present in all 22 families of Araneae that have been examined; they represent a very conservative morphological feature in the evolution of the Araneae. Evidence of specialized regions of the egg surface (micropyllar areas and plastrons) was found only in an opilionid. As spiders' eggs are laid in silk egg sacs, mostly in clutches, the possible effects of these characteristics are discussed from evidence in the literature and from a functional theoretic stance.