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Commagene Journal of Biology
Baltayeva et al., (2024) Comm. J. Biol. 8(2), 00-00.
DOI: 10.31594/commagene.1505663
e-ISSN 2602-456X
Note/Not
Corresponding author: osmanseyyar@hotmail.com
A New Type Covering Setae Morphology in Crab Spiders (Araneae)
Husnidil BALTAYEVA1, Hakan DEMİR1, Osman SEYYAR1*, Dariga BATAYEVA2, Fatma SEYYAR1
1Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Sciences and Arts Faculty, Department of Biology, Niğde, TÜRKİYE
2Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University, Department of Biology, Almaty, KAZAKHSTAN
ORCID ID: Husnidil BALTAYEVA: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6490-9446; Hakan DEMİR: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5456-4512;
Osman SEYYAR: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0920-7943; Dariga BATAYEVA: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2577-1894;
Fatma SEYYAR: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1545-2742
Received: 27.07.2024
Accepted: 19.09.2024
Published online: 01.10.2024
Issue published: 31.12.2024
Abstract: The present study aims to determine the covering setae in two crab spiders using scanning electron microscopy
(SEM). The setae on the prosoma of Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837) and Thomisus onustus Walckenaer, 1805 were
examined. This study reveals a new type of covering setae in the members of Thomisidae family.
Keywords: Cuticular structure, SEM, setae, thomisidae, araneae, surface morphology.
Yengeç Örümceklerinde (Araneae) Yeni Bir Tip Örtü Setası Morfolojisi
Öz: Mevcut çalışmada taramalı elektron mikroskobu kullanılarak iki yengeç örümceği türünde örtü setalarının morfolojisinin
belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837) ve Thomisus onustus Walckenaer, 1805 türlerinin prosomaları
üzerindeki setalar bu amaçla incelenmiştir. Thomisidae familyası üyelerinde ilk kez görülen bir örtü setası tipine rastlanılmıştır.
Anahtar kelimeler: Kütikular yapı, sem, seta, thomisidae, araneae, yüzey morfolojisi.
Setae in spiders have different morphologies and diverse
functions depending on their location on the body
(Ovtsharenko 1985; 1989). Only 13 of the 134 known spider
families have been studied on setae morphology
(Townsend & Felgenhauer, 1998). Although the studies
have mostly focused on ground spiders (Gnaphosidae),
lynx spiders (Oxyopidae), and jumping spiders
(Salticidae), there have been little or no studies on other
families.
Covering setae are specialized, hair-like structures
found on the bodies of spiders. These are not just ordinary
hairs; they are essential for a spider’s survival, locomotion,
and environmental adaptation. They are located mostly on
the abdomen and may also cover the cephalothorax, legs,
pedipalps, and spinnerets. They have no connection with
sensory receptor cells (Townsend & Felgenhauer, 1998). It
has been recognized that there are 10 different types of
setae on the cuticle of all spiders. The morphology of
covering setae varies among different spider genera.
Researchers have identified several major types of covering
setae such as plumose, squamose, lanceolate, pinnate,
arborate, and sicate forms, each with distinct characteristics
(Zakharov & Ovtsharenko, 2015).
In the Thomisidae family, covering setae were
studied in Stephanopis cf. scabra L. Koch, 1874 and S.
cambridgei Thorell, 1870 and found 3 different types of setae
that are finger-shaped with dentation. The dentate
structure of the setae is related to the fact that they live
among the debris and use these debris as camouflage
(Gawryszewski, 2014).
The aim of this study is to determine the new
covering setae type morphology from the species Runcinia
grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837) and Thomisus onustus
Walckenaer, 1805 that live on vegetation and belong to the
Thomisidae in the Araneae class.
The species of the Thomisidae family used in this
work were obtained from the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir
University Arachnology Museum (NOHUAM). These
species are Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837) (♀) and
Thomisus onustus Walckenaer, 1805 (♀♂). The scanning
electron microscope (SEM) was used in the Central
Research Laboratory of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir
University to determine the seta morphology of these crap
spiders. For each species, these body parts (prosoma,
opisthosoma, and legs) were placed on the stapes in the
proper position and the surface of these specimens was
coated with gold with a Sputter Coater (Cressingto Auto
108) brand device to obtain clearer images. The specimens
were then photographed using an EVO LS 10 ZEISS device
to examine the surface morphology (Fig. 1).
The setae morphology on the prosoma of Runcinia
grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837) and Thomisus onustus
Walckenaer, 1805 from Thomisidae was examined by SEM
and a new covering type setae morphology has been
identified for the first time. (Figs. 2-4).
Studies on the setae of spiders have mostly focused
on members of the families Salticidae, Oxyopidae, and
Gnaphosidae. Considering the spider families examined,
lanceolate, spatulate, and plumose setae are commonly
observed in spiders. There are almost no studies covering
setae morphology in members of the family Thomisidae
(Townsend & Felgenhauer, 1998; Gawryszewski, 2014;
Baltayeva et al., 2024). According to these studies,
Baltayeva reported that there are no cover setae in species
Synema plorator (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), Xysticus
laetus Thorell, 1875, and Diaea dorsata (Fabricius, 1777),
while Gawryszewski reported that there are 3 different
types of finger-shaped setae with denticles in species of
Baltayeva et al., (2024) Comm. J. Biol. 8(2), 00-00.
genus Stephanopis. He also reported that crab spiders
Stephanopis spp. adapt to their environment by attaching
debris to their bodies with the help of setae. In this study,
finger-shaped setae morphology was found in Runcinia
grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837) and Thomisus onustus
Walckenaer, 1805 from Thomisidae family. This type of
setae is similar to that of the crab spider genus Stephanopis
but of a different type. While the other types (type I, II, and
III setae) have denticles, this new type of seta does not have
denticles.
Figure 1. SEM imaging process
Figure 2. Digital (habitus) and SEM (covering setae) photos of Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837)
Figure 3. Digital (habitus) and SEM (covering setae) photos of male of Thomisus onustus Walckenaer, 1805.
Figure 4. Digital (habitus) and SEM (covering setae) photos of female of Thomisus onustus Walckenaer, 1805.
Comparing the new type setae morphology of
Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837) and Thomisus onustus
Walckenaer, 1805, it was observed that the setae length
was longer in R. grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837). In addition, it
Baltayeva et al., (2024) Comm. J. Biol. 8(2), 00-00.
was observed that in Thomisus onustus, this setae type
morphology is different in length for both sexes, with the
female having a slightly longer setae length than the male.
More studies should be conducted to learn about the
covering setae in the crab spider species belonging to the
Thomisidae family.
Ethics committee approval: Ethics committee approval is not
required for this study.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict
of interest.
Author Contributions: Conception – H.B., H.D., O.S.; Design –
H.B., H.D., O.S., D.B., F.S.; Materials – H.B., H.D., O.S.; Data
Collection and Processing – H.B., H.D., O.S.; Analysis
Interpretation – H.B., H.D., O.S., D.B., F.S.; Literature Review –
H.B., H.D., O.S., D.B., F.S.; Writing – H.B., H.D., O.S., D.B., F.S.;
Critical Review –H.D., O.S., D.B., F.S.
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