EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Like the chelicerae, a spider’s pedipalps are part of its mouth, and are located just between the chelicerae and first pair of legs on the cephalothorax. Pedipalps are jointed, and look somewhat like small legs. They are not used like legs, though.

Detailed explanation-2: -The pedipalps, or palps, which in arachnids function as an organ of touch, constitute the second pair of appendages.

Detailed explanation-3: -In adult female and juvenile spiders the pedipalps resemble a smaller pair of walking legs. In the adult males the tips of the pedipalps are greatly enlarged and are used in mating. The males transfer sperm from their genital opening into the pedipalps. The pedipalps are then used to transfer sperm to the female.

Detailed explanation-4: -They also have 6 pairs of appendages: 4 pairs of legs and 2 pairs of mouthpart appendages, the first are called chelicerae (hence, the subphylum Chelicerata). The second pair of mouthpart appendages are called pedipalps. Most authorities recognize 11 orders within the arachnida.