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Mechanoreceptive function of pectines in the Brazilian yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus: perception of substrate-borne vibrations and prey detection

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Abstract

Environment perception by scorpions is an issue of great interest, and there is controversy about the use of pectines in this function. This paper investigates the mechanoreceptive function of pectines of the yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus. The study was conducted in laboratory conditions from July 2003 to July 2004. Ninety females were maintained in six terraria (N = 15). Three of them were named “control” group (intact pectines) and the others “treatment” group (pectines covered with paraffin). Three experimental tests (an ethogram, a test of prey detection and a test of perception of substrate-borne vibrations) were performed to compare skills of animals with and without blocked pectines. The ethogram showed that treated individuals significantly reduced their exploratory activities, spent more time resting, and aggregated more than the control ones. Prey detection tests showed that the blocking of pectines made the yellow scorpions inefficient to detect and capture prey. Vibration tests showed that animals with blocked pectines also did not respond to the vibrations produced in the substrate, whereas the opposite occurred with the control group. These results suggest a mechanoreceptive function for T. serrulatus pectines, and show that the detection of ground vibrations by these structures is important for prey perception and orientation in the Brazilian yellow scorpion.

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Acknowledgements

We thank to P. S. Oliveira, A. Peretti, W. Lourenço, G. Q. Romero, J. R. Mineo, and L. S. P. Mineo for critical suggestions and English improvements in the manuscript. We specially thank Roger D. Farley who gave us valuable suggestions in the methodology and initial design of this study. M. Mineo thanks CAPES and K. Del-Claro thanks CNPq for research grants. We thank Greice A. F. Assis and the Institute of Mechanic Engineering, UFU for valuable field and laboratory assistance. This study is in accordance with the Brazilian laws of scientific research including animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biologia, Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e de Interações, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, CEP 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Kleber Del Claro

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, CEP 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Marina Farcic Mineo

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  1. Marina Farcic Mineo
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  2. Kleber Del Claro
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Correspondence to Kleber Del Claro.

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Communicated by R. F. Oliveira

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Mineo, M.F., Del Claro, K. Mechanoreceptive function of pectines in the Brazilian yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus: perception of substrate-borne vibrations and prey detection. acta ethol 9, 79–85 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-006-0021-7

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