Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Temperature Adaptive Behaviour in the Scorpion, Opisthophthalmus Latimanus Koch

1958; The Company of Biologists; Volume: 35; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1242/jeb.35.2.349

1477-9145

Anne J. Alexander, D. W. Ewer,

Insect Pheromone Research and Control

ABSTRACT In discussing the possible functions of the pectines of the scorpion, von Ubisch (1922) suggests that they serve ‘um den Stigmen frische Luft zuzufuhren’ by their fanning movements or, alternatively, they prop up the mesosoma so that fresh air can reach the stigmata. Both of these suggestions imply that under conditions of respiratory stress a scorpion will lift its mesosoma clear of the ground so that the book-lungs have free access to air. Although von Ubisch did not apparently observe such behaviour, the recent report of ‘abdominal elevation’ in the Australian scorpion, Urodacus abruptus Poc. (Southcott, 1955) lends colour to such an hypothesis, although work on the functions of the pectines makes it seem very improbable that they actually serve as ‘respiratory fans’. Southcott gives an illustration of a female of U. abruptas in the attitude typical of ‘abdominal elevating behaviour’, and from a comparison of this with some of the stances observed in various South African scorpions it becomes clear that such behaviour occurs also in the latter. Opisthophthalmus latimanus Koch, O. nitidiceps Poc., O. austeras Karsch., Parabuthus planicauda Poc. and Uroplectes triangulifer Thor, all show the pattern to varying extents, and it was felt that with so many species available for study, it would be profitable to follow up Southcott’s observations. Preliminary tests indicated that the biological significance of this phenomenon appeared to be the same in all these species, and the results described below refer particularly to Opisthophthalmus latimanus which has been most intensively studied.