- Pecten (Arachnid)
Pectines are peculiar appendages characteristic of the
scorpion s, which have derived from the first book gills of theXiphosura . After detailed studies of their ennervations, it has been suggested that the pectines act as bothmechanoreceptors andchemoreceptors .The back of pectines is made of three pieces, the proximal part being the longest and the middle one the shortest. The number of teeth is different in different species and varies from four to over 30.
Using pectines, the
scorpion s can:
* detect food
* hold the female close to a male inmating
* clean the body and limbs
* detect vibrations of the ground, warning of the approach of enemies orprey
* determine whether the ground is smooth enough or hard enough for depositingspermatophore sReferences
* Brusca, R. & Brusca, G., 2002. Invertebrates. Second edition. Sinauer. Massachusetts. 936pp.
* Savory, T., 1977. Arachnida. Second edition. Academic Press INC. New York. 339pp.
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