Received: September 16, 2008.

Accepted: October 6, 2008.

Abstract published online: October 31, 2009.

Full paper published online: February 28, 2009.

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE VENOM APPARATUS IN THE WOLF SPIDER Lycosa singoriensis (LAXMANN, 1770)

Yigit N (1), Bayram A (1), Danisman T (1), Sancak Z (2), Tel MG (3)

(1) Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, University of Kirikkale, Kirikkale, Turkey; (2) Department of Biology, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Kirikkale, Kirikkale, Turkey; (3) Suleyman Demirel Gymnasium, Directorate of National Education, Kirikkale, Turkey.

ABSTRACT: The wolf spider Lycosa singoriensis (Laxmann, 1770) (Lycosidae: Araneae) is distributed throughout central and eastern Europe, including Russia, Kazakhistan and Turkey. This study describes the venom apparatus morphology of L. singoriensis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its structure follows the general architecture observed in other spiders. Generally, a venom apparatus is composed by a pair of venom glands and chelicerae. L. singoriensis chelicerae are robust and consist of a stout basis and a movable apical segment (fang). The fang rests in a groove on the basal segment that is covered by different types of hair. L. singoriensis venom glands present equal size and measure about 4 mm in length. Each gland is enclosed by irregular muscular layers.

KEY WORDS: spider, Lycosa singoriensis, chelicerae, venom gland, morphology.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

NAZIFE YIGIT, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, University of Kirikkale, 71450 Kirikkale, Turkey. Phone: +90 318 357 24 78. Fax: +90 318 357 24 61. Email: naz_yigit2@hotmail.com.