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Sensory projections of identified coxal hair sensilla of the scorpionHeterometrus fulvipes (Scorpionidae)

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Abstract

The topography of long hair sensilla on the coxae of walking legs and pedipalps of the scorpionHeterometrus fulvipes is described. Identified long hair sensilla are cobalt filled, and central projections of sensory fibres are reported for the first time in the suboesophageal ganglion of this scorpion. The afferent fibres arising from each long hair sensilla segregate into ventral, dorsomedial and dorsal tracts upon their entry into the suboesophageal ganglion. These transverse tracts bifurcate towards the middle of the leg neuromere and form three ipsilateral, plurisegrnental, longitudinal sensory pathways. Filling a pair of bilaterally distributed long hair sensilla shows bilaterally arranged longitudinal afferent tracts interconnected by distinct transverse commissures. Similar patterns of sensory projections are observed when filling homologous hairs on other legs and pedipalps. Numerous fine collaterals arise from the longitudinal sensory trancts that subdivide and end in small blebs presumed to be presynaptic endings. The dorsal and dorsomedial longitudinal tracts and their respective commissures are in close association with the dendritic arborisations of pedipalpal and leg motor neurons, suggesting direct contact between them. The probable functions of these multisegmental hair afferent pathways are discussed.

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Abbreviations

LHS:

Long hair sensillum

SOG:

suboesophageal ganglion

VTT:

ventral transverse tract

DMT:

dorsal median tract

DT:

dorsal tract

VLST:

vental longitudinal sensory tract

AVT:

anterior ventral transverse tract

CVT:

central ventral transverse tract

PVT:

posterior ventral transverse tract

VDC:

ventrodorsal connective

DMLST:

dorsomedial longitudinal sensory tract

ADC:

anterior dorsal commissures

M DC:

medial dorsal commissure

DLST:

dorsal longitudinal sensory tract

PDT:

posterior dorsal transverse tract

AVC:

anterior ventral commissure

CVC:

central ventral commissure

PVC:

posterior ventral commissure

ADT:

anterior dorsal transverse tract

PDC:

posterior dorsal commissure

PDN:

pedipalpal nerve

VNC:

ventral nerve cord

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, S V University P G Centre, 524 201, Kavali, India

    K. Sasira Babu, K. Sreenivasulu & V. Sekhar

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  1. K. Sasira Babu
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  2. K. Sreenivasulu
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  3. V. Sekhar
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Babu, K.S., Sreenivasulu, K. & Sekhar, V. Sensory projections of identified coxal hair sensilla of the scorpionHeterometrus fulvipes (Scorpionidae). J Biosci 18, 247–259 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02703122

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02703122

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