<P> The cephalothorax, also called prosoma, is composed of two primary surfaces: a dorsal carapace and a ventral sternum . Most external appendages on the spider are attached to the cephalothorax, including the eyes, chelicerae and other mouthparts, pedipalps and legs . </P> <P> Like other arachnids, spiders are unable to chew their food, so they have a mouth part shaped like a short drinking straw that they use to suck up the liquefied insides of their prey . However, they are able to eat their own silk to recycle proteins needed in the production of new spider webs . Some spiders, such as the dewdrop spiders (Argyrodes), even eat the silk of other spider species . </P> <P> Spiders typically have eight walking legs (insects have six). They do not have antennae; the pair of appendages in front of the legs are the pedipalps (or just palps). Spiders' legs are made up of seven segments . Starting from the body end, these are the coxa, trochanter, femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus and tarsus . The tip of the tarsus bears claws, which vary in number and size . Spiders that spin webs typically have three claws, the middle one being small; hunting spiders typically have only two claws . Since they do not have antennae, spiders use specialised and sensitive setae on their legs to pick up scent, sounds, vibrations and air currents . </P> <P> The pedipalps have only six segments: the metatarsus is missing . In adult males, the tarsus of each palp is modified to carry an elaborate and often species - specific structure used for mating (variously called a palpal bulb, palpal organ or copulatory bulb). The basal segments of the pedipalps, the coxae, next to the mouth, are modified to assist with feeding, and are termed maxillae, although they are not homologous with the maxillae of mandibulate arthropods . In mesothele and mygalomorph spiders, the maxillae are only slightly modified; in araneomorph spiders, the anterior edge is often saw - like and is used in cutting up prey . </P>

Directly behind the chelicerae spiders have a pair of appendages called the