Chemosystematics in the <scp>O</scp>piliones (<scp>A</scp>rachnida): a comment on the evolutionary history of alkylphenols and benzoquinones in the scent gland secretions of <scp>L</scp>aniatores

Raspotnig, Günther; Bodner, Michaela; Schäffer, Sylvia; Koblmüller, Stephan; Schönhofer, Axel L.; Karaman, Ivo

doi:10.1111/cla.12079

Cited by 20 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The defensive secretion of D. pectinifemur is a mixture, which is usual for harvestmen, regardless of suborder (Gnaspini and Hara 2007;Jones et al 2009;Pomini et al 2010;Raspotnig et al 2005Raspotnig et al , 2014aRocha et al 2011;Schaider et al 2011). So far, only cryptogeobiids and phalangodids seem to produce a single phenolic compound (Hara et al 2005;Machado and Pomini 2008;Shear et al 2010) as a defensive secretion, although these data could be artifacts of the methods used.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, we propose that hydroquinones and their respective benzoquinones should be considered synonymous, if used for phylogenetic purposes. The identification of defensive compounds from the suborders Cyphophthalmi (Jones et al 2009;Raspotnig et al 2005Raspotnig et al , 2012 and Dyspnoi (Raspotnig et al 2010(Raspotnig et al , 2014bSchaider et al 2011) has allowed more precise inferences about the evolution of the defensive secretions in Opiliones (e.g., Raspotnig et al 2014a). As pointed out by these authors, knowing the biosynthetic routes of the defensive secretion is important because it allows a more realistic use of chemical data for phylogenetic purposes (e.g., proposing weight matrices).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Harvestmen defensive secretions may be composed of methyl ketones, naphtoquinones, benzoquinones, and phenols among other chemicals (e.g., Hara et al 2005;Jones et al 2009;Raspotnig et al 2005Raspotnig et al , 2010Raspotnig et al , 2014aWouters et al 2013). Although these chemicals can repel some predators (Eisner et al 2004;Machado et al 2005), defensive secretions are not always used against all predators (see Carvalho et al 2012;Dias and Willemart 2013;Dias et al 2014;Eisner et al 2004;Souza and Willemart 2011;Segovia et al 2015b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Scent Glands of the Neotropical Harvestman Discocyrtus pectnifemur: Morphology, Behavior and Chemistry

et al. 2015

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Harvestmen have a pair of scent glands that open through ozopores. The literature suggests a link between the morphology of the ozopore area and the emission of a defensive secretion. A previous study on a species that aggregates in open areas, where individuals are probably more easily spotted by predators, showed that this defensive secretion causes conspecifics to flee. However, it is unknown whether this behavior occurs in species that aggregate in sheltered areas, where prey are harder to find. Herein, we describe the morphology of the ozopore area, the mode of emission of the defensive secretion, and its chemical composition in the harvestman Discocyrtus pectinifemur. We also tested if the defensive secretion is used as an alarm pheromone. We found that D. pectinifemur releases the defensive secretion in different ways, one of them being as a jet. Emission as a jet contrasts with that known for all congeners previously studied, and is in accord with the expected morphology of the ozopore. We found that the defensive secretion of D. pectinifemur does not function as an alarm pheromone. The composition of the defensive secretion, a mixture of quinones, is congruent with those already described for the clade that includes Discocyrtus. Our results support the link between the morphology of the scent glands area and the emission behavior of the defensive secretion, and they suggest that the alarm pheromone function in harvestmen may be dependent on ecological factors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Scent Glands of the Neotropical Harvestman Discocyrtus pectnifemur: Morphology, Behavior and Chemistry

et al. 2015

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“…Although no cyanogenic species has been known among Chelicerata, chemical defense is widespread in the group, particularly among arachnids such as whip scorpions (16,17), harvestmen (18,19), certain spiders (20), and mites (21,22). Here, we demonstrate cyanogenesis in a mite of the order Oribatida, a diverse and mostly soil-dwelling group of decomposers that discharge myriad defenserelated semiochemicals from a pair of large exocrine opisthonotal oil glands (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28).…”

mentioning

confidence: 73%

Storage and release of hydrogen cyanide in a chelicerate ( Oribatula tibialis )

Brückner

Raspotnig

Wehner

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Cyanogenesis denotes a chemical defensive strategy where hydrogen cyanide (HCN, hydrocyanic or prussic acid) is produced, stored, and released toward an attacking enemy. The high toxicity and volatility of HCN requires both chemical stabilization for storage and prevention of accidental self-poisoning. The few known cyanogenic animals are exclusively mandibulate arthropods (certain myriapods and insects) that store HCN as cyanogenic glycosides, lipids, or cyanohydrins. Here, we show that cyanogenesis has also evolved in the speciose Chelicerata. The oribatid mite Oribatula tibialis uses the cyanogenic aromatic ester mandelonitrile hexanoate (MNH) for HCN storage, which degrades via two different pathways, both of which release HCN. MNH is emitted from exocrine opisthonotal oil glands, which are potent organs for chemical defense in most oribatid mites.

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“…Harvestmen possess repugnatorial glands, which are used to store chemical cocktails that are secreted in defensive behavior. Chemical composition across lineages has been shown to have some phylogenetic value, particularly in Laniatores (Raspotnig 2012, Raspotnig et al 2015). Similarly, a study focusing on Travunioidea and Triaenonychoidea has shown high levels of divergence in chemical composition between taxa formerly united under the traditional taxonomy (i.e., Cladonychiidae) (Shear et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A stable phylogenomic classification of Travunioidea (Arachnida, Opiliones, Laniatores) based on sequence capture of ultraconserved elements

Derkarabetian¹,

Starrett²,

Tsurusaki³

et al. 2018

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Molecular phylogenetics has transitioned into the phylogenomic era, with data derived from next-generation sequencing technologies allowing unprecedented phylogenetic resolution in all animal groups, including understudied invertebrate taxa. Within the most diverse harvestmen suborder, Laniatores, most relationships at all taxonomic levels have yet to be explored from a phylogenomics perspective. Travunioidea is an early-diverging lineage of laniatorean harvestmen with a Laurasian distribution, with species distributed in eastern Asia, eastern and western North America, and south-central Europe. This clade has had a challenging taxonomic history, but the current classification consists of ~77 species in three families, the Travuniidae, Paranonychidae, and Nippononychidae. Travunioidea classification has traditionally been based on structure of the tarsal claws of the hind legs. However, it is now clear that tarsal claw structure is a poor taxonomic character due to homoplasy at all taxonomic levels. Here, we utilize DNA sequences derived from capture of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) to reconstruct travunioid relationships. Data matrices consisting of 317–677 loci were used in maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and species tree analyses. Resulting phylogenies recover four consistent and highly supported clades; the phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of the enigmatic genus Yuria is less certain. Based on the resulting phylogenies, a revision of Travunioidea is proposed, now consisting of the Travuniidae, Cladonychiidae, Paranonychidae (Nippononychidae is synonymized), and the new family Cryptomastridae Derkarabetian & Hedin, fam. n., diagnosed here. The phylogenetic utility and diagnostic features of the intestinal complex and male genitalia are discussed in light of phylogenomic results, and the inappropriateness of the tarsal claw in diagnosing higher-level taxa is further corroborated.

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Chemosystematics in the Opiliones (Arachnida): a comment on the evolutionary history of alkylphenols and benzoquinones in the scent gland secretions of Laniatores

Cited by 20 publications

References 44 publications

The Scent Glands of the Neotropical Harvestman Discocyrtus pectnifemur: Morphology, Behavior and Chemistry

The Scent Glands of the Neotropical Harvestman Discocyrtus pectnifemur: Morphology, Behavior and Chemistry

Storage and release of hydrogen cyanide in a chelicerate ( Oribatula tibialis )

A stable phylogenomic classification of Travunioidea (Arachnida, Opiliones, Laniatores) based on sequence capture of ultraconserved elements

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