Distribution maps of the species

Hillyard, P. D.; Sankey, J. H. P.

doi:10.1163/9789004627529_012

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Arachnids evolved diverse, and often unique, sensory structures on varying body parts to explore their surroundings regarding chemo-and mechanosensory information and to establish adequate response profiles. Examples for such sensory organs are the antenniform legs of Thelyphonida (e.g., Haupt, 1996;Moro & Geethabali, 1985;Sinakevitch et al, 2021) and Amblypygi (e.g., Foelix & Hebets, 2001;Santer & Hebets, 2011;Segovia et al, 2020), the leglike pedipalps of Solifugae (e.g., Cushing & Casto, 2012;Cushing et al, 2014), the pedipalps of Aranea (e.g., Barth, 2002b;Foelix, 1996;Ganske & Uhl, 2018), or the sensory legs I and II in Opiliones (e.g., Bishop, 1949;Elpino-Campos et al, 2001;Hillyard & Sankey, 1989;Hoenen & Gnaspini, 1999;Willemart & Chelini, 2007;Willemart et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanosensory pathways of scorpion pecten hair sensillae—Adjustment of body height and pecten position

Wolf

Stemme

2022

J of Comparative Neurology

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Scorpions' sensory abilities are intriguing, especially the rather enigmatic ventral comb-like chemo-and mechanosensory organs, the so-called pectines. Attached ventrally to the second mesosomal segment just posterior to the coxae of the fourth walking leg pair, the pectines consist of the lamellae, the fulcra, and a variable number of pecten teeth. The latter contain the bimodal peg sensillae, used for probing the substrate with regard to chemo-and mechanosensory cues simultaneously. In addition, the lamellae, the fulcra and the pecten teeth are equipped with pecten hair sensillae (PHS) to gather mechanosensory information. Previously, we have analyzed the neuronal pathway associated with the peg sensillae unraveling their somatotopic projection pattern in dedicated pecten neuropils. Little is known, however, regarding the projections of PHS within the scorpion nervous system. Behavioral and electrophysiological assays showed involvement of PHS in reflexive responses but how the information is integrated remains unresolved. Here, we unravel the innervation pattern of the mechanosensory pecten hair afferents in Mesobuthus eupeus and Euscorpius italicus. By using immunofluorescent labeling and injection of Neurobiotin tracer, we identify extensive arborizations of afferents, including (i) ventral neuropils, (ii) somatotopically organized multisegmental sensory tracts, (iii) contralateral branches via commissures, and (iv) direct ipsilateral innervation of walking leg neuromeres 3 and 4.Our results suggest that PHS function as sensors to elicit reflexive adjustment of body height and obstacle avoidance, mediating accurate pecten teeth alignment to guarantee functionality of pectines, which are involved in fundamental capacities like mating or navigation.

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