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Simon M, Hoyte C. A Case Report of Venezuelan Suntiger Tarantula (Psalmopoeus Irminia) Envenomation and Review of Tarantula Exposures. J Emerg Med 2023; 65:e199-e203. [PMID: 37635034 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tarantula envenomations are encountered infrequently but may increase with increased exotic animal ownership. This case report presents the first documented toxicity from a Venezuelan suntiger tarantula (VST), Psalmopoeus irminia, and provides a general framework for approaching patients with tarantula exposures. CASE REPORT A 35-year-old man presented to an emergency department 4 h after experiencing a bite from his pet VST. He developed erythema, pain, and edema to the bite site on the left thenar eminence that extended proximally. Within 4 h, he developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, throat itching, and tightness. The patient had a blood pressure of 131/105 mm Hg, heart rate of 102 beats/min, 36.6°C, respiratory rate of 20 breaths/min, and SpO2 of 94%. Laboratory evaluations were within normal limits (other than chronically elevated but improved transaminases). The patient received 0.5 mg epinephrine intramuscularly, 50 mg diphenhydramine IV, 20 mg famotidine IV, 0.4 mg ondansetron IV, and 1 L of normal saline for a suspected anaphylactic reaction. Shortly after epinephrine administration, his gastrointestinal and upper airway symptoms resolved. All symptoms resolved within 1 week. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Little is known about VST toxicity. Therefore, providers should rely on a general framework for approaching patients with tarantula exposures. Morbidity from tarantula exposures is mediated by mechanical injury, venom effects, and hypersensitivity reactions. Typical clinical findings include local pain, pruritis, edema, erythema, and burning. Muscle cramping, ophthalmia nodosa, and hypersensitivity reactions may occur. Treatment is primarily supportive and includes decontamination, cool compresses, analgesia, treatment of anaphylaxis, and ophthalmology evaluation if ocular exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Simon
- Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, Colorado; Department of Emergency Medicine, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, Colorado
| | - Christopher Hoyte
- Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, Colorado; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado
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Wang W, Zhang XS, Wang ZN, Zhang DX. Evolution and phylogenetic diversity of the aquaporin gene family in arachnids. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 240:124480. [PMID: 37068537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Water flux across cells predominantly occurs through the pore formed by the aquaporin channels. Since water balance is one of the most important challenges to terrestrial animals, aquaporin evolution and diversity is known to play roles in animal terrestrialisation. Arachnids (Arthropoda: Chelicerata: Arachnida) are the second most diverse group and represent the pioneer land colonists in animals; however, there remains no thorough investigation on aquaporin evolution and diversity in this evolutionarily important lineage. Here we reported a phylogenetic study of aquaporin evolution and diversity using genomic data from 116 arachnid species covering almost all (15/16) extant orders. A previously unrecognised subfamily related to aquaporin-4 (i.e. Aqp4-like subfamily) via phylogenetic analysis was identified, suggesting certain underestimate of the arachnid aquaporin diversity in earlier studies probably due to limited taxonomic sampling. Further analysis indicates that this subfamily emerged deep within the life tree of arthropods. Gene tree of another Aqp4-like subfamily (PripL) shows an unexpected basal split between acariform mites (Acariformes) and other arachnids. A closer inspection demonstrated that the PripL evolved quickly and has been under differential selection pressure in acariform mites. Evidence is provided that the evolutionarily ancient Glp subfamily (i.e. aquaglyceroporin) is significantly expanded in terrestrial arachnids compared with their marine relatives. Finally, in spite of the phylogenetic diversity, there exists conservation of some exons in size, functional domain, and intron-insertion phase: an 81-bp and a 218-bp exon, respectively, in apq4-like and glp genes across Eumetazoa lineages including arachnids and human beings. Both exons encode the carboxyl-terminal NPA motif, implying the coding and splicing pressure during hundreds of million years of animal evolution. Hypotheses were tested to explore the possible link between these findings and arachnid terrestrialisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xue-Shu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhen-Nan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - De-Xing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
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Lopardo L, Michalik P, Hormiga G. Take a deep breath… The evolution of the respiratory system of symphytognathoid spiders (Araneae, Araneoidea). ORG DIVERS EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-021-00524-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
AbstractSpiders are unique in having a dual respiratory system with book lungs and tracheae, and most araneomorph spiders breathe simultaneously via book lungs and tracheae, or tracheae alone. The respiratory organs of spiders are diverse but relatively conserved within families. The small araneoid spiders of the symphytognathoid clade exhibit a remarkably high diversity of respiratory organs and arrangements, unparalleled by any other group of ecribellate orb weavers. In the present study, we explore and review the diversity of symphytognathoid respiratory organs. Using a phylogenetic comparative approach, we reconstruct the evolution of the respiratory system of symphytognathoids based on the most comprehensive phylogenetic frameworks to date. There are no less than 22 different respiratory system configurations in symphytognathoids. The phylogenetic reconstructions suggest that the anterior tracheal system evolved from fully developed book lungs and, conversely, reduced book lungs have originated independently at least twice from its homologous tracheal conformation. Our hypothesis suggests that structurally similar book lungs might have originated through different processes of tracheal transformation in different families. In symphytognathoids, the posterior tracheal system has either evolved into a highly branched and complex system or it is completely lost. No evident morphological or behavioral features satisfactorily explains the exceptional variation of the symphytognathoid respiratory organs.
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Guo X, Selden PA, Ren D. New specimens from Mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber illuminate the phylogenetic placement of Lagonomegopidae (Arachnida: Araneae). Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
New lagonomegopid spiders are described from Mid-Cretaceous Myanmar (Burmese) amber. Two new genera and species based on single specimens, Scopomegops fax gen. & sp. nov. and Hiatomegops spinalis gen. & sp. nov. are described. Two specimens belonging to Lineaburmops beigeli are further described. Additionally, after re-examining the holotype of Odontomegops titan, a detailed description of its basal ventral abdomen is added here. A phylogenetic analysis was performed to investigate the phylogenetic placement of Lagonomegopidae. A matrix of 79 morphological characters, scored for six lagonomegopid taxa and 26 non-lagonomegopid taxa, was analysed through parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic inference. Our results recover extant Palpimanoidea as a monophyletic group and partly suggest that Lagonomegopidae is the sister-group to extant Palpimanoidea. The external sexual organs, retrolateral tibial apophysis on the male palp and tracheal spiracle in lagonomegopids are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangbo Guo
- College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University , Xisanhuanbeilu, Haidian District, Beijing , China
| | - Paul A Selden
- College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University , Xisanhuanbeilu, Haidian District, Beijing , China
- Department of Geology, University of Kansas , Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence KS , USA
- Natural History Museum , London , UK
| | - Dong Ren
- College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University , Xisanhuanbeilu, Haidian District, Beijing , China
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Abstract
Spiders (Araneae) make up a remarkably diverse lineage of predators that have successfully colonized most terrestrial ecosystems. All spiders produce silk, and many species use it to build capture webs with an extraordinary diversity of forms. Spider diversity is distributed in a highly uneven fashion across lineages. This strong imbalance in species richness has led to several causal hypotheses, such as codiversification with insects, key innovations in silk structure and web architecture, and loss of foraging webs. Recent advances in spider phylogenetics have allowed testing of some of these hypotheses, but results are often contradictory, highlighting the need to consider additional drivers of spider diversification. The spatial and historical patterns of diversity and diversification remain contentious. Comparative analyses of spider diversification will advance only if we continue to make progress with studies of species diversity, distribution, and phenotypic traits, together with finer-scale phylogenies and genomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitar Dimitrov
- Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway;
| | - Gustavo Hormiga
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA;
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Bird Feces as Indicators of Metal Pollution: Pitfalls and Solutions. TOXICS 2020; 8:toxics8040124. [PMID: 33353152 PMCID: PMC7767019 DOI: 10.3390/toxics8040124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Bird feces are commonly used as a proxy for measuring dietary metal exposure levels in wild populations. Our study aims to improve the reliability and repeatability of fecal metal measurements and gives some recommendations for sampling. First, we studied levels of variation in metallic element (arsenic, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel, lead) concentrations: temporal variation within an individual, among siblings in a brood and among-brood/spatial variation. Second, we explored the variation caused by dual composition (urate vs. feces) of bird droppings. Two sets of fresh fecal samples were collected from pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) nestlings living in a metal polluted area in summers 2017 (dataset 1) and 2018 (dataset 2). We found a great deal of temporal intra-individual variation in metal levels, suggesting that dietary exposure varied markedly in a short time scale (within a day). A sample from only one nestling per brood did not well describe the brood mean value, and we recommend that at least four siblings should be sampled. Brood level samples give relatively good temporal repeatability for most metals. For all the metals, the levels in the fecal portion were more than double to those in the urate portion. Since the mass proportion of urate in the bird droppings varied a great deal among samples, standardizing sampling, e.g., by collecting only the fecal part, would markedly reduce the variation due to composition. Alternatively, urate portion could be used for biomonitoring of internally circulated bioavailable metal.
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Dunlop JA. Miniaturisation in Chelicerata. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2019; 48:20-34. [PMID: 30367936 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Arachnids and their relatives (Chelicerata) range in body length from tens of centimetres in horseshoe crabs down to little more than 80-200 μm in several groups of mites. Spiders (Araneae) show the widest range within a given Bauplan - the largest species being ca. 270 times longer than the smallest - making them excellent models to investigate scaling effects. The two mite clades (Parasitiformes and Acariformes) are the main specialists in being small. Miniaturisation, and its consequences, is reviewed for both fossil and extant chelicerates. Morphological changes potentially related to miniaturisation, or adapting to the ecological niches that small size allows, include reduction in the length and number of legs, loss of prosomal arteries (and eventually also the heart), replacement of book lungs by tracheae, or even loss of all respiratory organs. There may also be evolutionary novelties, such as the acquisition of structures by which some mites attach themselves to larger hosts. The observed character distributions suggest a fairly fundamental division between larger pulmonate (lung-bearing) arachnids and smaller, non-pulmonate, groups which could reflect a phylogenetic dichotomy. However, it is worth noting that lineages of tiny spiders were originally fully pulmonate, but have acquired some typically non-pulmonate features, while camel spiders (Soli-fugae) can be large but have a Bauplan suggestive of smaller, non-pulmonate, ancestors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Dunlop
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstrasse 43, Berlin D-10115, Germany
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Laino A, Lopez-Zavala AA, Garcia-Orozco KD, Carrasco-Miranda JS, Santana M, Stojanoff V, Sotelo-Mundo RR, Garcia CF. Biochemical and structural characterization of a novel arginine kinase from the spider Polybetes pythagoricus. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3787. [PMID: 28924503 PMCID: PMC5598448 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Energy buffering systems are key for homeostasis during variations in energy supply. Spiders are the most important predators for insects and therefore key in terrestrial ecosystems. From biomedical interest, spiders are important for their venoms and as a source of potent allergens, such as arginine kinase (AK, EC 2.7.3.3). AK is an enzyme crucial for energy metabolism, keeping the pool of phosphagens in invertebrates, and also an allergen for humans. In this work, we studied AK from the Argentininan spider Polybetes pythagoricus (PpAK), from its complementary DNA to the crystal structure. The PpAK cDNA from muscle was cloned, and it is comprised of 1068 nucleotides that encode a 384-amino acids protein, similar to other invertebrate AKs. The apparent Michaelis-Menten kinetic constant (Km) was 1.7 mM with a kcat of 75 s−1. Two crystal structures are presented, the apoPvAK and PpAK bound to arginine, both in the open conformation with the active site lid (residues 310–320) completely disordered. The guanidino group binding site in the apo structure appears to be organized to accept the arginine substrate. Finally, these results contribute to knowledge of mechanistic details of the function of arginine kinase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldana Laino
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Dr. Prof. Rodolfo R. Brenner", Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alonso A Lopez-Zavala
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Karina D Garcia-Orozco
- Laboratorio de Estructura Biomolecular, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Jesus S Carrasco-Miranda
- Laboratorio de Estructura Biomolecular, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Marianela Santana
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Dr. Prof. Rodolfo R. Brenner", Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vivian Stojanoff
- Photon Science Directorate, National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, United States of America
| | - Rogerio R Sotelo-Mundo
- Laboratorio de Estructura Biomolecular, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Carlos Fernando Garcia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Dr. Prof. Rodolfo R. Brenner", Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Herrmann SK, Roberts JA. Dehydration resistance and tolerance in the brush-legged wolf spider ( Schizocosaocreata): a comparison of survivorship, critical body water content, and water-loss rates between sexes. CAN J ZOOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Small-bodied terrestrial animals like spiders face challenges maintaining water reserves essential for homeostasis. They may experience dry microclimates and (or) seasonal variation in water availability, so dehydration is a common stressor that may help explain movement, foraging, and other behaviors. This study examines aspects of dehydration resistance and tolerance in the brush-legged wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz, 1844) (Araneae: Lycosidae), commonly found in the leaf litter of eastern deciduous forests of North America. Sexes differ in morphology, physiology, reproductive strategy, and life history, likely resulting in divergent abilities to resist and tolerate dehydration. We used humidity-controlled chambers to examine relative survivorship by sex under varying humidity regimes, water-loss rates, body water content, and critical water mass. Spiders survived significantly longer in higher humidity regimes (≥50% RH). Females had significantly better survivorship overall, lower body-loss rates, and lower critical mass, though males had greater percent body water content, indicating that females have greater dehydration resistance and tolerance than males. Although sex-based differences in survival time and water-loss rates are likely an effect of relative body mass, females should be more successful than males during periods of episodic drought and are likely selected to survive later in the season while caring for offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha K. Herrmann
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1515 Museum of Biological Diversity, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA
| | - J. Andrew Roberts
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University at Newark, 1179 University Drive, Newark, OH 43055, USA
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McCue MD, Salinas I, Ramirez G, Wilder S. The postabsorptive and postprandial metabolic rates of praying mantises: Comparisons across species, body masses, and meal sizes. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 93-94:64-71. [PMID: 27568396 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The metabolic rate of an animal affects the amount of energy available for its growth, activity and reproduction and, ultimately, shapes how energy and nutrients flow through ecosystems. Standard metabolic rate (SMR; when animals are post-absorptive and at rest) and specific dynamic action (SDA; the cost of digesting and processing food) are two major components of animal metabolism. SMR has been studied in hundreds of species of insects, but very little is known about the SMR of praying mantises. We measured the rates of CO2 production as a proxy for metabolic rate and tested the prediction that the SMR of mantises more closely resembles the low SMR of spiders - a characteristic generally believed to be related to their sit-and-wait foraging strategy. Although few studies have examined SDA in insects we also tested the prediction that mantises would exhibit comparatively large SDA responses characteristic of other types of predators (e.g., snakes) known to consume enormous, protein-rich meals. The SMR of the mantises was positively correlated with body mass and did not differ among the four species we examined. Their SMR was best described by the equation μW=1526*g0.745 and was not significantly different from that predicted by the standard 'insect-curve'; but it was significantly higher than that of spiders to which mantises are ecologically more similar than other insects. Mantises consumed meals as large as 138% of their body mass and within 6-12h of feeding and their metabolic rates doubled before gradually returning to prefeeding rates over the subsequent four days. We found that the SDA responses were isometrically correlated with meal size and the relative cost of digestion was 38% of the energy in each meal. We conclude that mantises provide a promising model to investigate nutritional physiology of insect predators as well as nutrient cycling within their ecological communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marshall D McCue
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, United States.
| | - Isabella Salinas
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Gabriella Ramirez
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Shawn Wilder
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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Franz-Guess S, Klußmann-Fricke BJ, Wirkner CS, Prendini L, Starck JM. Morphology of the tracheal system of camel spiders (Chelicerata: Solifugae) based on micro-CT and 3D-reconstruction in exemplar species from three families. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2016; 45:440-451. [PMID: 27519794 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We studied the tracheal system of exemplar species representing three families of Solifugae Sundevall, 1833, i.e., Galeodes granti Pocock, 1903, Ammotrechula wasbaueri Muma, 1962 and Eremobates sp., using μCT-imaging and 3D-reconstruction. This is the first comparative study of the tracheal system of Solifugae in 85 years and the first using high-resolution nondestructive methods. The tracheal system was found to be structurally similar in all three species, with broad major tracheae predominantly in the prosoma as well as anastomoses (i.e., connections between tracheal branches from different stigmata) in the prosoma and opisthosoma. Differences among the three species were observed in the presence or absence of cheliceral air sacs, the number of tracheae supplying the heart, and the ramification of major tracheae in the opisthosoma. The structure of the tracheal system with its extensive branches and some anastomoses is assumed to aid rapid and efficient gas exchange in the respiratory tissues of these active predators. The large diameter of cheliceral tracheae (air sacs) of taxa with disproportionally heavier chelicerae suggests a role in weight reduction, enabling solifuges to reach greater speeds during predation. The air sacs may also permit more rapid and efficient gaseous exchange, necessary to operate the musculature of these structures, thereby improving their use for predation in an environment where prey is scarce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Franz-Guess
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Biocenter - Department of Biology II, Functional Morphology Group, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Bastian-Jesper Klußmann-Fricke
- Universität Rostock, Allgemeine & Spezielle Zoologie, Institute für Biowissenschaften, Universitätsplatz 2, 18055, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Christian S Wirkner
- Universität Rostock, Allgemeine & Spezielle Zoologie, Institute für Biowissenschaften, Universitätsplatz 2, 18055, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Lorenzo Prendini
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, Arachnology Lab, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024-5192, USA.
| | - J Matthias Starck
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Biocenter - Department of Biology II, Functional Morphology Group, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
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Franz-Guess S, Starck JM. Histological and ultrastructural analysis of the respiratory tracheae of Galeodes granti (Chelicerata: Solifugae). ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2016; 45:452-461. [PMID: 27531444 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Solifuges lack oxygen-carrying proteins like hemocyanins found in other chelicerates. For conduction of gases, therefore, we hypothesize that the tracheal system is divided into convective and respiratory parts, the latter having intimate association with respiring cells, tissues and organs. This hypothesis is supported by studies of tracheae in other arthropods. We used light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy to examine the tracheae of Galeodes granti (Chelicerata, Solifugae). We studied tracheae in cheliceral and leg muscles, midgut and midgut diverticula, the heart and the supra- and subesophageal ganglia of the central nervous system. In all tissues examined, the tracheae penetrate into tissues and can be found between cells. Terminal branches with diameter less than one micron were found embedded into cell bodies of respiring tissue, thus reducing the diffusion distance. We suggest that the terminal branches are specialized for respiratory function due to their thin intima, with reduced endocuticle and exocuticle. Comparison with other tracheate chelicerates suggests parallel evolution of a common tracheal pattern based on homologous cellular building materials within the chelicerates and arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Franz-Guess
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Biocenter - Department of Biology II, Functional Morphology Group, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
| | - J Matthias Starck
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Biocenter - Department of Biology II, Functional Morphology Group, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
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