title: The source of chilopod sensory information: external structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in Scutigera coleoptrata (chilopoda, Scutigeromorpha).
abstract: The investigation of the antennae of Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 1758) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of five types of sensilla: sensilla trichodea, beak-like sensilla, cone-shaped sensilla brachyconica on the terminal article, sensory cones at the antennal nodes, and the shaft organ. Alongside the presence and absence of antennal sensillar types, three unique characters were found in the Scutigeromorpha: the presence of long antennae with nodes bearing sensory cones, the presence of a bipartite shaft including the shaft organ, and the presence of beak-like sensilla. Neuroanatomical data showed that the animals' brains are equipped with well-developed primary olfactory and mechanosensory centers, suggesting that the antennae must be equipped with specialized sensilla to perceive chemosensory and mechanosensory cues. With the evidence provided in this article for the Scutigeromorpha, SEM data are available at last on the antennal sensilla for all five chilopod taxa, allowing a comparative discussion of antennal morphology in Chilopoda.
authors: Zoological Institute and Museum, Cytology and Evolutionary Biology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University of Greifswald, 17497 Greifswald, Germany. andy.sombke@uni-greifswald.de
authors: Andy
authors: A
authors: Sombke
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Gero
authors: G
authors: Hilken
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Westermann
authors: Alfred
authors: A
authors: Ernst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001181:Arthropods / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D058618:Sensilla / Q000648:ultrastructure*