Neurobiology of Arachnids

389 Pages·1985·3.2 MB·English

by  K. Sasira Babu (auth.)

Neurobiology
of Arachnids
Edited by
Friedrich G. Barth
Contributors
K. S. Babu . F. G. Barth· A. D. Blest· B. Claas
Gerta Fleissner· Gunther Fleissner· R. F. Foelix
L.Forster· P. Gorner· M. F. Land· R. Legendre
H. Mittelstaedt· A. ReiBland· T. M. Root
E.-A. Seyfarth· R. G. Sherman· P. Weygoldt
S. Yamashita
With 162 Figures
Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo
Professor Dr. FRIEDRICH G. BARTH
Zoologisches Institut
Fachbereich Biologie
J.-W.-Goethe-Universitat
SiesmayerstraBe 70
D-6000 Frankfurt am Main 1
Cover illustrations:
Poecilotheria rega/is an Indian bird-spider
Scorpio maurus an Algerian scorpion, natural length 6 cm
both redrawn from
PIERRE-P. GRASSE (ed.): Traite de Zoologie. Tome VI, Masson et Cie. Paris 1949
ISBN-13: 978-3-642-70350-8 e-ISBN-13: 978-3-642-70348-5
DOl: 10.1007/978-3-642-70348-5
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data. Main entry under title: Neu-
rology of arachnids. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Nervous system-Arach-
nida. 1. Barth, Friedrich G., 1940- . II. Babu, K S. QL459.2.N48 1985
595.4'04182 85-4753
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© Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg 1985
Softcover reprint of the hardcover I st edition 1985
The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply,
even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the
relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
2131/3130-543210
Dedicated to all those who
- for no good reason -
dislike animals with eight legs
Preface
Arachnids rarely come to mind when one discusses arthropod
neurobiology. In fact much more is now known and written about the
nervous systems of insects and crustaceans. Several arguments have led
us to conclude, however, that the time has come to document impor
tant aspects of the neurobiology of spiders, scorpions, and their kin, as
well.
Studies of arachnid neurobiology have made considerable progress
since the last comprehensive treatment by Bullock and Horridge in
their monumental monograph on invertebrate nervous systems pub
lished in 1965. This is especially true for research performed in the last
decade. Several problems related to the structure and function of
arachnid nervous and sensory systems have now been studied in con
siderable depth but have so far not been given adequate space under
one cover.
A particular incentive to produce this book has been the impor
tance attributed to comparative approaches in neurobiology. Neglect
ing a large taxonomic group such as the arachnids - which comprises
some 60,000 species living a wide range of different lives - would
mean ignoring an enormous potential source of knowledge. In writing
the chapters of this book we have striven to present some of the unique
features of the arachnids. But the result of our efforts is not just meant
to contribute to an understanding of the particularities of the arach
nids. Knowledge of the adaptive radiation among at least all the large
arthropod groups can also sharpen our insight into the basic traits
found again and again, and likely to be shaped by similar demands for
carrying out a particular task.
Having committed myself to work with spiders - which are not
just "honorary insects" - and having been intrigued by their sensory
and behavioral capacities over the years, I am hopeful that our book
will lure some of our colleagues into work with arachnids. As the
papers in this volume amply testify, there are excellent experimental
animals among them, and there is a wealth of unanswered questions,
many of which are addressed here in the various chapters.
The scope of the book ranges from the neuroanatomy of the central
nervous system, sensory physiology and neuroethology to cybernetics
and the circadian clock. We feel that none of the specializations of
VIII Preface
modern neurobiology - valuable and necessary as they may be -
should be considered in isolation. Also, neurobiology has become a
truly interdisciplinary science. It will be obvious to the reader that we
have not striven for an encyclopedia listing all known details. Rather
we intended - wherever possible - to focus on principles and mecha
nisms and to add the necessary framework and background.
I am very grateful to the authors for their generous cooperation, to
Dr. D. Czeschlik and the editorial staff of Springer-Verlag for their ad
vice and patience, to Mrs. U. Ginsberg for competent secretarial work,
to Mrs. H. Hahn for help with the figures, and to Dr. E.-A. Seyfarth for
valuable comments and criticism.
Special thanks are due to my wife and children. They charmingly
tolerated my many manuscripts even under the Mediterranean sun
during our vacations.
Frankfurt am Main, Spring 1985 FRIEDRICH G. BARTH
Contents
A The Central Nervous System: Structure and Development
I Patterns of Arrangement and Connectivity in the
Central Nervous System of Arachnids. K. S. BABU.
(With 7 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
II Ontogeny of the Arachnid Central Nervous System.
P. WEYGOLDT. (With 6 Figures) ........ 20
III The Stomatogastric Nervous System and Neurosecretion.
R. LEGENDRE. (With 2 Figures) . . . . . . . . . .. 38
B Structure and Function of Sensory Systems
Vision
IV The Morphology and Optics of Spider Eyes. M. F. LAND.
(With 13 Figures) ................. 53
V The Fine Structure of Spider Photoreceptors in Relation
to Function. A. D. BLEST. (With 8 Figures) . . . . .. 79
VI , Photoreceptor Cells in the Spider Eye:
Spectral Sensitivity and Efferent Control. S. YAMASHITA.
(With 10 Figures) ................ 103
M echano-and Chemoreception
VII Mechano- and Chemoreceptive Sensilla. R. F. FOELIX.
(With 11 Figures) ............... 118
VIII Trichobothria. A. REISSLAND and P. GORNER.
(With 12 Figures) .......... . 138
IX Slit Sensilla and the Measurement of Cuticular Strains.
F. G. BARTH. (With 8 Figures) . . . . . .. 162
Sensory Nerves and Peripheral Synapses
X Sensory Nerves and Peripheral Synapses. R. F. FOELIX.
(With 7 Figures) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
X Contents
C Senses and Behavior
XI Neuroethology of the Spider Vibration Sense.
F. G. BARTH. (With 7 Figures) ..... . 203
XII Spider Proprioception: Receptors, Reflexes, and Control
of Locomotion. E.-A. SEYFARTH. (With 8 Figures). 230
XIII Target Discrimination in Jumping Spiders (Araneae:
Salticidae). L. FORSTER. (With 11 Figures) .... 249
XIV Homing Behavior and Orientation in the Funnel-Web
Spider, Agelena labyrinthica Clerck. P. GORNER and
B. CLAAs. (With 11 Figures) ........... 275
XV Analytical Cybernetics of Spider Navigation.
H. MITTELSTAEDT. (With 11 Figures) 298
D The Motor System
XVI Neural Control of the Heartbeat and Skeletal Muscle
in Spiders and Scorpions. R. G. SHERMAN.
(With 13 Figures) ............ 319
XVII Central and Peripheral Organization of Scorpion
Locomotion. T. M. ROOT. (With 4 Figures) 337
E Neurobiology of a Biological Clock
XVIII Neurobiology of a Circadian Clock in the Visual System
of Scorpions. G. FLEISSNER and G. FLEISSNER.
(With 13 Figures) 351
SUbject Index 377
Contributors
You will find the addresses at the beginning of the respective contri
bution
BABU, K. S. 3 LAND, M. F. 53
BARTH, F. G. 162,203 LEGENDRE, R. 38
BLEST, A. D. 79 MITTELSTAEDT, H. 298
CLAAS, B. 275 REISSLAND, A. 138
FLEISSNER, GERTA 351 ROOT, T. M. 337
FLEISSNER, GUNTHER 351 SEYFARTH, E.-A. 230
FOELIX, R. F. 118,189 SHERMAN, R. G. 319
FORSTER, L. 249 WEYGOLDT, P. 20
GORNER, P. 138,275 YAMASHITA, S. 103