Genital morphology and copulatory mechanics in Anyphaena accentuata (Anyphaenidae) and Clubiona pallidula (Clubionidae: Araneae) |
| |
| Authors: | Bernhard A. Huber |
| |
| Affiliation: | Institut für Zoologie der Universität Wien, Althanstr. 14 A-1090 Wien, Austria |
| |
| Abstract: | The spiders Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802) and Clubiona pallidula (Clerck, 1757) are investigated with respect to the functional morphology of their genital organs. Copulatory mechanics is directly analysed by freeze-fixation of copulating pairs and subsequent preparation of serial sections of the clasped genitalia. Data on courtship behaviour are included. Beyond the discussion of specific findings, the general usefulness of copulatory mechanics for phylogenetic research and the supposed function of male genitalia as stimulators are addressed. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
