Ozopore

An ozopore is a defensive gland present in harvestmen, which are eight-legged arachnids also known as "daddy long-legs". These glands, also called "scent glands", "repugnatorial glands", "odoriferous glands" or "stink glands" by various authors, are located at the anterior sides of the prosoma.

The name is derived from Ancient Greek ozo "smell" and Latin porus "pore, small opening".

The defensive secretions emitted by them also act as an alarm pheromone. The glands are infoldings of the body wall, consisting of three layers. Although the glands themselves have no musculature, there is associated musculature present, which is most elaborate in Cyphophthalmi. Eupnoi and Dyspnoi have the most reduced muscular system.^[1]

This defensive behavior is considered most effective in the suborders Cyphophthalmi and Laniatores.^[1]

In the suborder Cyphophthalmi, the ozopores are located on special ozophores, specialized elevated cones.

Many different compounds have been found in various studied harvestman secretions. The chemical composition of the secretions seems to be useful in taxonomic recognition. In the Laniatores, Gonyleptoidea produce alkylated benzoquinones and phenols, and Travunioidea produce mainly terpenoids. In the Eupnoi, the Sclerosomatidae secrete short-chain acyclic ketones and alcohols, and the Phalangiidae, naphthoquinones.^[1]

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Gnaspini, Pedro & Hara, Marcos R. (2007): Defensive Mechanisms. In: Pinto-da-Rocha et al. 2007: 382ffPinto-da-Rocha et al. 2007: 382ff

References

• Pinto-da-Rocha, R., Machado, G. & Giribet, G. (eds.) (2007): Harvestmen - The Biology of Opiliones. Harvard University Press ISBN 0-674-02343-9