ecribellate

Definition

Referring to spiders that do not possess a cribellum, a specialized spinning organ used to produce fine, woolly silk.

Etymology

From Latin 'e-' meaning 'without' and 'cribellum' meaning a little sieve or spinning organ.

Example

Most modern spiders are ecribellate and rely on silk glands to produce different types of silk for their webs.

Related Terms

• Cribellate
• Silk glands
• Web spinning
• Spider silk

Usage Notes

Ecribellate spiders are more common than cribellate spiders, and they often employ different silk-producing strategies.