Title: | "Neotropical harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) use sexually dimorphic glands to spread chemicals in the environment" |
Author(s): | Fernandes Nda S; Willemart RH; |
Address: | "Laboratorio de Ecologia Sensorial e Comportamento de Artropodes (LESCA), Escola de Artes Ciencias e Humanidades, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Arlindo Bettio, 1000 Ermelino Matarazzo 03828-000, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Laboratorio de Ecologia Sensorial e Comportamento de Artropodes (LESCA), Escola de Artes Ciencias e Humanidades, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Arlindo Bettio, 1000 Ermelino Matarazzo 03828-000, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: willemart@usp.br" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.crvi.2014.01.004 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1768-3238 (Electronic) 1631-0691 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Sexually dimorphic glands have convergently appeared in animals and are often responsible for the production of pheromones. In the suborder Laniatores of the order Opiliones (Arachnida), glands of such type are widespread, but there is not a single paper on how they are used. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy and a behavioral approach, we describe glandular openings and how these glands are used, in the harvestmen Gryne perlata and Gryne coccinelloides (Cosmetidae). Males of these two species have glandular openings on the metatarsi of legs I and on the metatarsi IV. Males were shown rubbing the glands of the metatarsi I against their other legs, whereas glands on the metatarsi IV are gently touched on the substrate or rubbed either against other legs, or against the substrate. Not all behaviors were seen in both species" |
Keywords: | "Animal Communication Animals Arachnida/*physiology Behavior, Animal/physiology Environment Extremities/anatomy & histology/physiology Female Male Pheromones/*physiology Scent Glands/anatomy & histology/*physiology Chemical communication Communication chim;" |
Notes: | "MedlineFernandes, Nathalia da Silva Willemart, Rodrigo Hirata eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't France 2014/04/08 C R Biol. 2014 Apr; 337(4):269-75. doi: 10.1016/j.crvi.2014.01.004. Epub 2014 Mar 19" |