Comparative biology of spatial navigation in three arachnid orders (Amblypygi, Araneae, and Scorpiones)

Ortega-Escobar, Joaquin; Hebets, Eileen A.; Bingman, Verner P.; Wiegmann, Daniel D.; Gaffin, Douglas D.

doi:10.1007/s00359-023-01612-2

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 206 publications

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“…Owing to considerable difficulties in physiological experimentation and lack of model systems amenable to genetic manipulations, research into neural mechanisms underlying navigational strategies in non-insect arthropods is still highly rudimentary despite evidence for highly sophisticated navigational behavior. The review by Joaquin Ortega-Escobar and colleagues shows that homing and path integration is a common navigation behavior in various arachnids (Ortega-Escobar et al 2023 ). Ablation studies showed that proprioceptive information, visual input, including celestial compass information and, in amblypygids, olfactory signals are exploited for navigational purposes but central nervous mechanisms have not yet been explored.…”

Section: Contributions To This Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the neural basis of spatial orientation in arthropods

Homberg

Pfeiffer

2023

J Comp Physiol A

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The neural basis underlying spatial orientation in arthropods, in particular insects, has received considerable interest in recent years. This special issue of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A seeks to take account of these developments by presenting a collection of eight review articles and eight original research articles highlighting hotspots of research on spatial orientation in arthropods ranging from flies to spiders and the underlying neural circuits. The contributions impressively illustrate the wide range of tools available to arthropods extending from specific sensory channels to highly sophisticated neural computations for mastering complex navigational challenges.

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Section: Contributions To This Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the neural basis of spatial orientation in arthropods

Homberg

Pfeiffer

2023

J Comp Physiol A

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“…Furthermore, recent discoveries of path integration (Prévost & Stemme, 2020) and learning walk performance (Gaffin et al, 2022) revealed that scorpions are able to realize complex navigational behaviours. Along these lines, Gaffin and Brayfield (2017) postulated the chemo‐textural familiarity hypothesis, which is based on the assumption that scorpions continuously gather substrate‐borne chemo‐ and mechanosensory information with their pectines to generate a complex image of their surroundings (for reviews on scorpion navigation see Gaffin & Curry, 2020; Ortega‐Escobar et al, 2023; Prévost & Stemme, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No evidence for regeneration of pectines in the scorpion Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800)

Stemme

2023

Acta Zoologica

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Although scorpions have comparatively low regenerative potential, legs and pedipalps are able to regenerate some structures in an often incomplete manner. The most intriguing scorpion appendages are the ventrally located pectines. These organs are equipped with numerous sensilla that scan the substrate for mechanosensory‐ and chemosensory cues. Due to their ventral position and frequent substrate contact, pectines are vulnerable to traumatic injuries. Pecten malformations have been hypothesized to be the result of incomplete regeneration. To investigate their regeneration capabilities, the pectines of postembryonic stages of Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800) were amputated before the second moult at three different positions. Data on intermoult periods and the number of pectinal teeth were gathered for approximately 2.5 years. The regeneration process on exuviae of up to six moulting events was documented by photographs and confocal laser‐scanning microscopy. Regardless of the amputation site, no evidence for regenerative capabilities of pectines in E. italicus could be reported. Thus, incomplete regenerations mentioned in the literature are likely the result of simple wound healing. Depending on habitat complexity, substrate contact time of the pectines seem to differ, which might be interpreted as a trade‐off between highest sensory input and the avoidance of traumatic injury of the pectines.

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Mouthpart morphology and feeding structures in the palaeocharinid trigonotarbids of the Rhynie chert: insights from comparisons to modern arachnids

Long,

Edgecombe,

Clark

et al. 2024

Palaeontology

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Trigonotarbida, an extinct order of spider‐like arachnids, were significant predators between the late Silurian and early Permian. Characterized by their segmented opisthosoma, clasp‐knife chelicera, and paired book lungs, they played a pivotal role in the formation of Early Devonian terrestrial ecosystems. However, the compression‐fossil or mould preservation of most trigonotarbids has been a limiting factor in understanding their fine morphology. Here, we re‐examine the mouthparts of Palaeocharinus, a trigonotarbid genus from the c. 408 Ma Rhynie chert of Scotland. Rhynie preserves the palaeocharinid trigonotarbids in three dimensions with extraordinary fidelity, offering detailed insights into their anatomy, feeding and hunting behaviours, and phylogenetic position. Here we present the first confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) data for Palaeocharinus using three‐dimensional modelling to reconstruct the morphology of a tiered filtration apparatus, comprising a coarse outer mesh of interlacing plumose setae and a fine inner filter of pinnate setae. Together with the clasp‐knife action of the chelicera and mastication by the cheliceral teeth, Palaeocharinus emerges as a sophisticated terrestrial predator with a feeding mechanism resembling that of extant representatives of Pedipalpi (Amblypygi + Uropygi + Schizomida). Phylogenetic analyses with new and modified mouthpart characters affirm the placement of Trigonotarbida within Pantetrapulmonata (Aranaeae + Pedipalpi). This study provides insights into the evolutionary innovations that facilitated the diversification and proliferation of trigonotarbids in early terrestrial landscapes.

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Comparative biology of spatial navigation in three arachnid orders (Amblypygi, Araneae, and Scorpiones)

Cited by 5 publications

References 206 publications

Unraveling the neural basis of spatial orientation in arthropods

Unraveling the neural basis of spatial orientation in arthropods

No evidence for regeneration of pectines in the scorpion Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800)

Mouthpart morphology and feeding structures in the palaeocharinid trigonotarbids of the Rhynie chert: insights from comparisons to modern arachnids

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