noun
- Plural of epigyne; the external female reproductive structure in spiders, located on the underside of the abdomen.
Usage: zoology; arachnology; technical
Examples
- Arachnologists examine the epigynes of female spiders to identify species.
- The shape and structure of epigynes vary greatly among different spider families.
- Researchers use epigynes as a key diagnostic feature in spider taxonomy.
- The epigyne's morphology is often species-specific and helps distinguish closely related spiders.