Pedipalpi

views updated

Pedipalpi (subphylum Chelicerata, class Arachnida) Arachnid order in which the Uropygi (including Schizomida) and Amblypygi are often combined as suborders because of their similarities. All members are strikingly flattened (an adaptation for living in confined spaces) and have the first walking leg modified as a slender whip. The seventh body segment is constricted to form a pedicel, and there are two pairs of book lungs. There are nevertheless two distinct groups, the scorpion-like Uropygi which have a terminal flagellum, and the spider-like, tail-less whipscorpions (amblypygids).

More From encyclopedia.com