scopula
biology
Quick Summary
The term "scopula" in biology refers to a bushy tuft of hairs. Specifically, spiders possess scopulae on their feet and chelicerae, which they use in web construction. The word originates from Latin, meaning "small broom". Another related term is "scopulite," which describes a crystallite resembling a stem with radiating brushes. While arachnids have various sense organs, including tactile hairs and simple eyes, the scopula is a distinct physical feature related to their appendages.123
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.