Fig. 2

Specimen bleaching and CLSM imaging using the perforated anodised aluminium slide. a An untreated subadult pedipalp tip. The distal end comprises the segments femur (fe), patella (pt), and the club (cb). The club is surrounded by dark brown cuticle and contains internally (not visible) the primordium of the tibia, cymbium and the male copulatory organ (bulb). b A pedipalp tip fully cleared embedded in a hole of the perforated aluminium slide. The cuticle and the internal tissue are transparent. c CLSM image showing an optical section through the pedipalp tip. Internal anatomy of the club is well preserved (the primordium of tibia and cymbium surrounding the bulb organ). Scale bar: 200 µm (for all panels)