The mineral phase in the cuticles of two species of Crustacea consists of magnesium calcite, amorphous calcium carbonate, and amorphous calcium phosphate.
The cuticules (shells) of the woodlice Porcellio scaber and Armadillidium vulgare were analysed with respect to their content of inorganic material. It was found that the cuticles consist of crystalline magnesium calcite, amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), besides small amounts of water and an organic matrix. It is concluded that the cuticle, which constitutes a mineralized protective organ, is chemically adapted to the biological requirements by this combination of different materials.
Becker
Alexander
A
University of Ulm, Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89069 Ulm, Germany.
Ziegler
Andreas
A
Epple
Matthias
M
D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000032:analysis; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003445:Crustacea / Q000737:chemistry*; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; C519480:amorphous calcium phosphate; C020243:calcium phosphate; D002119:Calcium Carbonate