Identification of males from genital features
Definition of saccular and aedeagal features used in the keys (also see anatomy of male genitalia)
Terms applied to the sacculus
Anterior (or anteroventral) margin: the margin of a rectangular or triangular sacculus between its base and the anterolateral angle. The term "anterior" applies to its appearance in a prepared specimen set for slide mounting, when it is the lower margin in standard view; anatomically it is ventral in the unopened genital capsule.
Anterolateral angle: point of junction between anterior margin and lateral margin in a rectangular or triangular sacculus
Lateral margin: the margin of the sacculus between the anterolateral angle and the posterolateral angle in a rectangular sacculus or between the anterolateral angle and the posterior base in a triangular sacculus
Anterolateral margin: the margin of a bowed sacculus between its base and the posterolateral angle
Posterolateral angle; point of junction between the lateral or anterolateral margin and the posterior margin
Posterior margin: any identifiable margin of the sacculus between the posterolateral angle and the point of fusion of the sacculus with the valva
Rectangular sacculus: a sacculus with identifiable anterolateral and posterolateral angles, anterior, lateral and posterior margins
Triangular sacculus: a sacculus with an identifiable anterolateral angle, anterior and lateral margins. Topologically, the angle is lateral, but it is always the most anterior part of a triangular sacculus in the set position, so it seems sensible to term it anterolateral. (this is incomplete)
Bowed sacculus: a sacculus without an identifiable anterolateral angle
Anterior process: a discrete process at the anterolateral angle of a rectangular sacculus (no species with a triangular sacculus has an anterior process)
Anterior projection: a projection of the anterior and lateral margins at the anterolateral angle of a rectangular or triangular sacculus, which does not amount to a discrete process (clearly an element of judgement is required to determine whether the angle has a process or a projection, but most of the time the distinction is pretty clear)
Posterior process: a discrete process at the posterolateral angle, or from the posterior margin of the sacculus
Posterior projection: a projection of the lateral and posterior margins at the posterolateral angle
Lateral projection: the apical point of a bowed sacculus which lacks a distinct posterolateral angle
Spinous process / spine: an elongate strongly sclerotised process
Dentate process / tooth: a small, variably sclerotised process, usually not longer than wide
Digitate process / finger: an elongate sclerotised process that is not more strongly sclerotised than the rest of the sacculus
Elongate: longer than wide
Quadrate: About as long as wide
Sclerotised: hardened with sclerotin
Scobinate: rasp-like patch of sclerotisation
Crenate / dentate / serrate: scalloped / toothed / saw-toothed - usually referring to part of the saccular margin
Anterior (or anteroventral) margin: the margin of a rectangular or triangular sacculus between its base and the anterolateral angle. The term "anterior" applies to its appearance in a prepared specimen set for slide mounting, when it is the lower margin in standard view; anatomically it is ventral in the unopened genital capsule.
Anterolateral angle: point of junction between anterior margin and lateral margin in a rectangular or triangular sacculus
Lateral margin: the margin of the sacculus between the anterolateral angle and the posterolateral angle in a rectangular sacculus or between the anterolateral angle and the posterior base in a triangular sacculus
Anterolateral margin: the margin of a bowed sacculus between its base and the posterolateral angle
Posterolateral angle; point of junction between the lateral or anterolateral margin and the posterior margin
Posterior margin: any identifiable margin of the sacculus between the posterolateral angle and the point of fusion of the sacculus with the valva
Rectangular sacculus: a sacculus with identifiable anterolateral and posterolateral angles, anterior, lateral and posterior margins
Triangular sacculus: a sacculus with an identifiable anterolateral angle, anterior and lateral margins. Topologically, the angle is lateral, but it is always the most anterior part of a triangular sacculus in the set position, so it seems sensible to term it anterolateral. (this is incomplete)
Bowed sacculus: a sacculus without an identifiable anterolateral angle
Anterior process: a discrete process at the anterolateral angle of a rectangular sacculus (no species with a triangular sacculus has an anterior process)
Anterior projection: a projection of the anterior and lateral margins at the anterolateral angle of a rectangular or triangular sacculus, which does not amount to a discrete process (clearly an element of judgement is required to determine whether the angle has a process or a projection, but most of the time the distinction is pretty clear)
Posterior process: a discrete process at the posterolateral angle, or from the posterior margin of the sacculus
Posterior projection: a projection of the lateral and posterior margins at the posterolateral angle
Lateral projection: the apical point of a bowed sacculus which lacks a distinct posterolateral angle
Spinous process / spine: an elongate strongly sclerotised process
Dentate process / tooth: a small, variably sclerotised process, usually not longer than wide
Digitate process / finger: an elongate sclerotised process that is not more strongly sclerotised than the rest of the sacculus
Elongate: longer than wide
Quadrate: About as long as wide
Sclerotised: hardened with sclerotin
Scobinate: rasp-like patch of sclerotisation
Crenate / dentate / serrate: scalloped / toothed / saw-toothed - usually referring to part of the saccular margin
Terms applied to the aedeagus
Tunica: strongly sclerotised apical portion of the aedeagus
Vesica: largely hyaline part of the aedeagus proximal to the tunica
Cornutus (pl cornuti): thorn-like sclerotised spicules inside the vesica, or less commonly inside the tunica
Prong: one of a pair of sclerotised bars of a two-pronged aedeagus
Annulus: a narrow sclerotised ring in the apical part of the vesica
Tooth: a sclerotic protrusion from the tunica
Spur: a narrow elongate sclerotised protrusion from the tunica
Carina: a sclerotised keel of the tunica
Apical tooth: a short strongly sclerotised extension at the apex of a prong and more-or-less in-line with the prong
Subapical tooth: a tooth near the apex of a prong and projecting more-or-less perpendicular to the prong (note that a tooth can be very close to the apex and still be subapical)
At ½, ⅓ etc. eg "tooth at ¾" = tooth positioned ¾ of the way along the tunica from its base
Tunica: strongly sclerotised apical portion of the aedeagus
Vesica: largely hyaline part of the aedeagus proximal to the tunica
Cornutus (pl cornuti): thorn-like sclerotised spicules inside the vesica, or less commonly inside the tunica
Prong: one of a pair of sclerotised bars of a two-pronged aedeagus
Annulus: a narrow sclerotised ring in the apical part of the vesica
Tooth: a sclerotic protrusion from the tunica
Spur: a narrow elongate sclerotised protrusion from the tunica
Carina: a sclerotised keel of the tunica
Apical tooth: a short strongly sclerotised extension at the apex of a prong and more-or-less in-line with the prong
Subapical tooth: a tooth near the apex of a prong and projecting more-or-less perpendicular to the prong (note that a tooth can be very close to the apex and still be subapical)
At ½, ⅓ etc. eg "tooth at ¾" = tooth positioned ¾ of the way along the tunica from its base