« Previous Abstract[Prostate cancer and dogs sense of smell: opportunities of noninvasive diagnostics]    Next AbstractSelf-organization of foraging behaviour: from simplicity to complexity without goals »

J Morphol

Title:		"Ultrastructure of the sexually dimorphic basitarsal glands of leg I in manaosbiid harvestmen (Opiliones, Laniatores)"
Author(s):		Proud DN; Felgenhauer BE;
Address:		"Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, USA. dnp0646@louisiana.edu"
Journal Title:		J Morphol
Year:		2011
Volume:		20110428
Issue:		7
Page Number:		872 - 882
DOI:		10.1002/jmor.10954
ISSN/ISBN:		1097-4687 (Electronic) 0022-2887 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Chemical communication is an important aspect of arthropod biology especially for those arthropods with limited abilities to detect visual and acoustic signals. Sexually dimorphic glands are often associated with the production of pheromones, which play a role in reproductive processes. In the family Manaosbiidae (Opiliones: Laniatores), males exhibit an enlarged, swollen, often fused, and spindle-like basitarsus on leg I. In this study, we provide a novel description of the morphology and ultrastructure of the glandular structures found in the proximal swollen tarsomeres of the male manaosbiid Rhopalocranaus albilineatus Roewer, 1932 and compare the external leg I morphology with that of two other manaosbiid harvestmen (Barrona williamsi Goodnight and Goodnight, 1942 and Cranellus montgomeryi Goodnight and Goodnight, 1947). The two proximal tarsomeres of the male R. albilineatus leg I contain two large, paired, acinar glands consisting of many glandular cells. Cells empty their secretory products into a large, branched epicuticular duct, which exits the leg via a pore on the ventral region. Thus, a total of four glandular structures are present within the two swollen tarsomeres and each possesses a conducting canal and pore. Finally, we discuss possible roles of these basitarsal glands in manaosbiid reproductive biology based on the present understanding of sexually dimorphic glands in other terrestrial arthropods (i.e., insects and spiders)"
Keywords:		"Animals Arachnida/*anatomy & histology/physiology Exocrine Glands/physiology/*ultrastructure Extremities/*anatomy & histology/physiology Female Male Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Microscopy, Electron, Transmission Sex Characteristics Species Specificity;"
Notes:		"MedlineProud, Daniel N Felgenhauer, Bruce E eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2011/05/04 J Morphol. 2011 Jul; 272(7):872-82. doi: 10.1002/jmor.10954. Epub 2011 Apr 28"