noun
- Plural of epigynum; the external genital structure of female spiders and some other arachnids.
Usage: technical; zoology
Examples
- Arachnologists examine the epigynums of spider specimens to identify species.
- The shape and pattern of epigynums vary significantly among different spider families.
- Female spiders can be distinguished from males by the presence of an epigynum.
- Researchers use epigynums as a key diagnostic feature in spider taxonomy.