An Observation of Somatic Chromosomes from Spider Embryo-cells

Preparations of somatic chromosomes were made using spider embryo-cells by a flame-dry technique with a colchicine- and a hypotonic-treatment. The somatic chromosome numbers of 4 species of spiders studied were as follows: 24 and 26 in Acusilas coccineus, 26 and 28 in Anyphaena pugil, 28 and 30 in both Hasarius doenitzi and Pardosa T-insignita. Somatic chromosomal preparation made from embryo-cells of eggs are successful for observing the chromosomes of spiders. Especially, it is considered that the technique demonstrated in this paper is useful for examination of chromosomes of spiders which are too small for dissecting their gonads from them.