What Are Chelicerae and Pedipalps?
Pedipalps (Commonly Shortened to Palps or Palpi) Are the Second Pair of Appendages of Chelicerates – a Group of Arthropods Including Spiders, Scorpions...
Pedipalps (commonly shortened to palps or palpi) are the second pair of appendages of chelicerates – a group of arthropods including spiders, scorpions, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. The pedipalps are lateral to the chelicerae ("jaws") and anterior to the first pair of walking legs.
What is the purpose of a spiders chelicerae and pedipalps?
In many forms they are chelate, or pincerlike, and are used to hold and crush prey. Among spiders the basal segment of the chelicerae contains venom sacs, and the second segment, the fang, injects venom. The pedipalps, or palps, which in arachnids function as an organ of touch, constitute the second pair of appendages.
What do chelicerae do?
Chelicerae are filled with muscles, and are used to hold prey while the spider injects venom. Note that a few rare spiders, such as those in the scientific family Uloboridae, do not have venom glands, although they possess fangs and chelicerae.
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