TY - JOUR T1 - Mother-offspring food transfer in Coelotes terrestris (Araneae, Agelenidae) JF - Journal of Arachnology Y1 - 1991 A1 - Gundermann, J. L. A1 - Horel, A. A1 - Roland, C. SP - 97 EP - 101 KW - [Egg laying / / ] [Parental care / / Food transfer to offspring KW - & apart KW - among young KW - and development KW - Biometrics KW - Coelotes terrestris (Araneae). KW - Coelotes terrestris [Weight / / Changes in mother & young kept together KW - Development KW - Ecology KW - evidence for food transfer] [Feeding behaviour / / Cannibalism KW - evidence from weight changes & observations] [Growth / / Young kept KW - influence of maternal presence & food supply] [Egg / / KW - Life cycle KW - Nutrition KW - observations & first report for Araneae] KW - Population dynamics KW - Reproduction KW - Reproductive behaviour KW - Trophic eggs for feeding young KW - with & apart from mother] [Survival / / ]. AB - Three different modes of maternal food supply have been reported in the subsocial agelenid species Coelotes terrestris: prey provisioning, consumption of the mother's body, and regurgitation of nutritive fluids. Although the first two modes are well documented, the latter is not fully assessed. By comparing-in the absence of any prey-the weight variations in spiderlings either left with their mothers or isolated, and by simultaneously comparing the weight variations of mothers, either isolated or left within the group of spiderlings, it was possible to see evidence of a significant and long-lasting food transfer from the mother to her progeny. This food transfer probably explains the high level of survivorship and reduction of cannibalism showed by broods left with their mothers. Close observation provided no direct evidence of mouth to mouth transfer. Rather, the food transfer appears to involve the production and emission of miniature eggs by the mother when in presence of spiderlings, a phenomenon which to date seems not to have been noted among spiders. VL - 19 SN - 0161-8202 UR - ://ZOOREC:ZOOR12800017224 N1 - ZOOR12800017224 ER -