Translingual

Araneus diadematus

Proper noun

Opisthothelae

1. A taxonomic suborder within the order Araneae – spiders that have certain relatively modern characteristics: the absence of tergite plates on, and near-absence of ganglia in, the abdomen; the hindmost position of the spinnerets; and the presence of venom glands.

Usage notes

Opisthothelae is a clade and was introduced as a classification relatively recently to mark a division of its members from the more primitive members of Mesothelae.

Hyponyms

• (suborder): Araneomorphae, Mygalomorphae (infraorders)