2019
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.182022
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Ultrastructural evidence of a mechanosensory function of scale organs (sensilla) in sea snakes (Hydrophiinae)

Abstract: The evolution of epidermal scales was a major innovation in lepidosaurs, providing a barrier to dehydration and physical stress, while functioning as a sensitive interface for detecting mechanical stimuli in the environment. In snakes, mechanoreception involves tiny scale organs (sensilla) that are concentrated on the surface of the head. The fully marine sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) are closely related to terrestrial hydrophiine snakes but have substantially more protruding (dome-shaped) scale organs that often … Show more

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Cited by 22 publications
(15 citation statements)
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“…Hypothesis 1: the MCVN supplies cephalic mechanosensory organs called sensilla [13]. This hypothesis can be rejected because the distribution of sensilla on the head of this snake species does not match that of the blood vessels: the density of sensilla on the rostral scale does not appear to be higher than that on the labial scales (which are not very densely vascularized), and there are almost no sensilla on the frontal and parietal scales (which are densely vascularized).…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Hypothesis 1: the MCVN supplies cephalic mechanosensory organs called sensilla [13]. This hypothesis can be rejected because the distribution of sensilla on the head of this snake species does not match that of the blood vessels: the density of sensilla on the rostral scale does not appear to be higher than that on the labial scales (which are not very densely vascularized), and there are almost no sensilla on the frontal and parietal scales (which are densely vascularized).…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The two different signals may be caused by a response from two different sensory pathways, i.e. the scale mechanoreceptors distributed over the head (Crowe-Riddell et al, 2016, 2019a and the inner ears. Thresholds were successfully determined for both SPL and PAL based on one full protocol completed for one snake and two full protocols repeated after a 1 week interval for the other individual (Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…There is also the possibility that sensory systems in addition to their inner ear contribute to the detection of waterborne vibrations in sea snakes. The cephalic scales of sea snakes are covered in numerous mechanoreceptors known as scale sensillae (Crowe-Riddell et al, 2016;Crowe-Riddell et al, 2019a). Although the sensitivity of these scale mechanoreceptors is not yet known, they may effectively detect low-frequency (<150 Hz) underwater hydrodynamic stimuli produced by swimming fishes, predators or prey items, and thus enhance the auditory sensitivity of sea snakes (Westhoff et al, 2005).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…A number of modern and extinct taxa have sophisticated mechanoreception allowing them to forage using tactile cues. Numerous mechanoreceptors in the scales of sea (Crowe-Riddell et al, 2016;Crowe-Riddell et al, 2019) and filesnakes (Van Der Kooij and Povel, 1996) for example, increase touch sensitivity and perhaps also sense variations in water pressure caused by prey.…”
Section: Ecology Of Pluridensmentioning
confidence: 99%