Maxilla (arthropod mouthpart)

For the maxilla of spiders, see Glossary of spider terms § maxilla.
In this malacostracan crustacean diagram, the maxillae are labelled maxilla and maxillula.

In arthropods, the maxillae (singular maxilla) are paired structures present on the head as mouthparts in members of the clade Mandibulata, used for tasting and manipulating food. Embryologically, the maxillae are derived from the 4th and 5th segment of the head and the maxillary palps; segmented appendages extending from the base of the maxilla represent the former leg of those respective segments. In most cases, two pairs of maxillae are present and in different arthropod groups the two pairs of maxillae have been variously modified. In crustaceans, the first pair are called maxillulae (singular maxillula).

Modified coxae at the base of the pedipalps in spiders are also called "maxillae",[1] although they are not homologous with mandibulate maxillae.

  1. ^ Foelix, Rainer F. (2011). Biology of Spiders (3rd p/b ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-19-973482-5.