The Dysderidae of the Maltese Islands (Arachnida: Araneae)

Cassar, Thomas; Řezáč, Milan

doi:10.30963/aramit6209

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…While the characteristic shape of the tip of the male bulb’s embolus in Dysdera erythrina has been noticed (Arnedo et al 2009 ; Řezáč et al 2018 ), its possible function during copulation has been touched upon only marginally (Řezáč et al 2018 , 20). The same applies to publications on Dysdera crocata (for example Cassar and Řezáč 2021 , 83 Fig. 3 a; Cooke 1966 , 38 Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

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A biosemiotic interpretation of certain genital morphological structures in the spiders Dysdera erythrina and Dysdera crocata (Araneae: Dysderidae)

Schult,

Preik,

Kirschner

et al. 2023

Theory Biosci.

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A biosemiotic approach to the interpretation of morphological data is apt to highlight morphological traits that have hitherto gone unnoticed for their crucial roles in intraspecific sign interpretation and communication processes. Examples of such traits include specific genital structures found in the haplogyne spiders Dysdera erythrina (Walckenaer 1802) and Dysdera crocata (Koch 1838). In both D. erythrina and D. crocata, the distal sclerite of the male bulb and the anterior diverticulum of the female endogyne exhibit a striking, previously unreported correspondence in size and shape, allowing for a precise match between these structures during copulation. In D. erythrina, the sclerite at the tip of the bulb and the anterior diverticulum are semi-circular in shape, whereas in D. crocata they are rectangular. From the perspective of biosemiotics, which studies the production and interpretation of signs and codes in living systems, these structures are considered the morphological zones of an intraspecific sign interpretation process. This process constitutes one of the necessary prerequisites for sperm transfer and the achievement of fertilization. Therefore, these morphological elements deserve particular attention as they hold higher taxonomic value compared to morphological traits of the bulb for which a relevant role in mating and fertilization has not been proven. Thus, an approach to species delimitation based on biosemiotics, with its specific evaluation of morphological structures, provides new insights for the multidisciplinary endeavour of modern integrative taxonomy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…2–4; Kovblyuk et al 2008 , 289, Figs. 1–4, 8–10; Cassar and Řezáč 2021 , 83 Fig. 3a) are rare, and a discussion of possible correspondences between these structures is completely lacking.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%