Anatomy and Physiology of Giant Neurons in the Antenniform Leg of the Amblypygid Phrynus Marginemaculatus

Spence, Andrew J.; Hebets, Eileen A.

doi:10.1636/s05-53.1

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The re-orientation began less than 16.6 ms (one frame) after contact by the cricket and contact occurred with the area of the antenniform leg tarsus from which GN2 receives excitation. From here, impulses have approximately 28 mm to travel to the central nervous system and, using a conduction velocity of 2.6 ms 21 for GN2 (Spence & Hebets 2007), they could cover this distance in 10.8 ms. Thus this re-orientation is likely to have been GN2-mediated since neurons of smaller diameter could not convey impulses sufficiently rapidly.…”

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confidence: 94%

“…The response properties of four of these neurons are now known: interneurons GN1 and 2 are mechanosensory and respond to mechanical contacts with the bristle hairs on the antenniform leg tarsus; sensory neurons GN6 and 7 are proprioceptors that detect bending of the tarsus around a particular joint (Igelmund & Wendler 1991a, b). The behavioral function of these giant neurons is unknown, but their presence in whip spiders from very different habitats indicates that they may play a role in fundamental behavior (Spence & Hebets 2007); one suggestion has been that they function in prey capture (see Weygoldt 2000).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Prey capture by the whip spider Phrynus marginemaculatus C.L. Koch

Santer

Hebets

2009

Journal of Arachnology

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Whip spiders (Arachnida, Amblypygi) are little-studied arachnids with enlarged spiny pedipalps and elongated ??antenniform?? forelegs. These antenniform legs contain at least seven giant sensory neurons with no known behavioral function. Here we use high-speed cinematography to describe the prey capture behavior of the whip spider Phrynus marginemaculatus C.L. Koch 1840, in order to examine how these giant neurons might be involved. When presented with a prey item (a cricket), a whip spider first accurately aims one of its antenniform legs in the prey?s direction. Next, the whip spider orients its body to the prey item and approaches, placing one antenniform leg tip on either side of the prey. The whip spider may remain relatively still in this position for some time, before opening its pedipalps in preparation for a strike and then rapidly swinging its antenniform legs away from the prey item and striking at it with its pedipalps. In common with previous studies, our results show that giant neuron activity is not necessary to trigger any of the stages of normal prey capture behavior, but they also suggest that these neurons could still provide information important in this context.Peer reviewe

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Prey capture by the whip spider Phrynus marginemaculatus C.L. Koch

Santer

Hebets

2009

Journal of Arachnology

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“…Details of these sensory structures and their putative functions were reviewed in Santer & Hebets (2011a). Amblypygids also possess giant interneurons that connect receptor cells to the central ganglia allowing for an extremely fast pathway of information (Foelix & Troyer 1980;reviewed in Foelix & Hebets 2001, Spence & Hebets 2006). This pathway seems important for several context-specific roles in Amblypygi behavior (reviewed in Santer & Hebets 2011a).…”

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confidence: 99%

The behavioral ecology of amblypygids

Chapin¹,

Hebets

2016

Journal of Arachnology

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“…The species is also found on several Bahamian islands, Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola (Muma, ; Quintero, ). Research on the species, however, has only occurred in captivity, with animals collected from a single island (Big Pine Key; Hebets & Chapman, ; Fowler‐Finn & Hebets, ; Spence & Hebets ; Santer & Hebets, , ) , the pet trade (Rayor & Taylor, ), or both (Graving, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The species is also found on several Bahamian islands, Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola Quintero, 1981). Research on the species, however, has only occurred in captivity, with animals collected from a single island (Big Pine Key; Hebets & Chapman, 2000;Fowler-Finn & Hebets, 2006;Spence & Hebets 2006;Santer & Hebets, 2009a, 2009b , the pet trade (Rayor & Taylor, 2006), or both (Graving, 2015). Interestingly, P. marginemaculatus has evolved a plastron to breathe underwater, which they can do for upwards of 24 hr (Hebets & Chapman, 2000).…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Island biogeography and ecological modeling of the amblypygid Phrynus marginemaculatus in the Florida Keys archipelago

Chapin

Winkler

Wiencek

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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AimThe biogeography of terrestrial organisms across the Florida Keys archipelago is poorly understood. We used population genetics and spatioecological modeling of the Amblypygi Phrynus marginemaculatus to understand the genetic structure and metapopulation dynamics of Keys populations that are otherwise isolated by human development and ocean.LocationThe Florida Keys archipelago and mainland Florida.MethodsWe sequenced a 1,238 bp fragment of mtDNA for 103 individuals of P. marginemaculatus from 13 sites in the Florida Keys and South Florida, binned into four regions. We used population genetic analyses to understand the population structure of the species throughout its US range. Furthermore, we used ecological modeling with climate, habitat, and human development data to develop habitat suitability estimates for the species.ResultsWe found clear genetic structure between localities. The Lower Keys, in particular, support populations separate from those in other regions studied. Ecological modeling and genetic analyses showed the highest habitat suitability and genetic isolation in the Lower Keys, but urban development across the species range has resulted in the loss of most historical habitat.Main conclusionsA mainland‐metapopulation model best fits P. marginemaculatus gene flow patterns in the Florida Keys and mainland. Ocean currents likely play a role in metapopulation dynamics and gene flow for terrestrial Keys species like P. marginemaculatus, and genetic patterns also matched patterns consistent with geologic history. Suitable habitat, however, is limited and under threat of human destruction. The few remaining pockets of the most suitable habitat tend to occur in parks and protected areas. We argue that conservation efforts for this species and others in the terrestrial Florida Keys would benefit from a deeper understanding of the population genetic structure and ecology of the archipelago.

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Anatomy and Physiology of Giant Neurons in the Antenniform Leg of the Amblypygid Phrynus Marginemaculatus

Cited by 17 publications

References 30 publications

Prey capture by the whip spider Phrynus marginemaculatus C.L. Koch

Prey capture by the whip spider Phrynus marginemaculatus C.L. Koch

The behavioral ecology of amblypygids

Island biogeography and ecological modeling of the amblypygid Phrynus marginemaculatus in the Florida Keys archipelago

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