Wolff, J. O., Martens, J., Schonhofer, A. L. and Gorb, Stanislav (2016) Evolution of hyperflexible joints in sticky prey capture appendages of harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones). Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 16 (3). pp. 549-557. DOI 10.1007/s13127-016-0278-2.

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Abstract

The rigid leg segments of arthropods are flexibly connected by joints, which usually consist of two ball-and-bowl hinges, permitting a uniaxial pivoting up to 140A degrees. Here, we report the occurrence of hyperflexible joints (range of movements = 160-200A degrees) in the pedipalps (second pair of appendages) of some harvestmen (Sabaconidae and Nemastomatidae), representing some of the most flexible leg joints among arthropods. Hyperflexion is achieved by a reduction of hinges and a strong constriction of the joint region. We demonstrate that hyperflexion occurs during prey capture and is used to clamp appendages of the prey, in addition to attachment by glue secreted by specialized setae. By means of high-speed video recordings, we found that in the Sabaconidae the tibiotarsal joint of the pedipalp can flex extremely rapidly (< 5 ms), limiting prey escape. This is the fastest reported predatory strike in arachnids and caused both by leverage and a click mechanism. By comparative analysis of different related taxa, we retraced joint evolution and found that hyperflexion has independently evolved in Sabaconidae and Nemastomatidae, with totally different joint kinematics. We hypothesize that (rapid) hyperflexion evolved to enhance the efficiency of the pedipalp as a means of prey capture, because in springtails detachable scales limit the action of the sticky secretion of pedipalpal setae.

Document Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Times Cited: 0 Wolff, Jonas O. Martens, Jochen Schoenhofer, Axel L. Gorb, Stanislav N.
Keywords:	Prey capture, Adhesion, Predator-prey interaction, Biomechanics, Torsion, Kinematics, Arachnida, Soil communities
Research affiliation:	Kiel University Kiel University > Kiel Marine Science OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence
Refereed:	Yes
Open Access Journal?:	No
Publisher:	American Medical Association
Projects:	Future Ocean
Date Deposited:	27 Feb 2017 09:40
Last Modified:	23 Sep 2019 22:01
URI:	https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/36376

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