Sammelbandbeitrag

Erschienen in: Evolving Pathways : Key Themes in Evolutionary Developmental Biology

Herausgeberliste: Minelli, A; Fusco, G

Jahr der Veröffentlichung: 2008

Seiten: 381-398

ISBN: 978-0-521-87500-4

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541582.026

Abstract: 

The morphology of
the appendages of the arthropods has been adapted to a large number of
life styles that is virtually unparalleled in any other organ in the
Metazoa. Different appendage types exist e.g. for walking, swimming,
jumping, prey-capture, chewing, biting, mating, egg-laying, breathing in
air, fresh water and salt water, and sensory perception (see Figure
20.1 for examples). Very specialised appendage types exist for
specialised modes of life: for example, the spinnerets in spiders, brush
legs for the distribution of pheromones (e.g. some moths) or stings for
defence (e.g. bees and wasps). In many cases, appendages from a single
segment or from several segments unite and form an entirely new
structure capable of tapping into new resources, e.g. the labium of
insects, formed by the fusion of an appendage pair, or the proboscis of
ticks, mosquitoes and flies, all of which are composed of the appendages
of at least two head segments.

A number of different appendage
types can be present on a single individual. The number of different
appendage types and their specific morphology depend on the species'
life style, but in most cases at least three different types are
present: appendages for sensory perception, feeding and locomotion
(Figure 20.1).

The appendages of the arthropods thus have been a
prime target of adaptive evolution. They are unparalleled in their sheer
number of novel forms and functions. Therefore, they are an excellent
model for the study of the principles of adaptive evolution and
morphological change and innovation.

Harvard-Zitierstil: Prpic, N. and Damen, W. (2008) Arthropod appendages: a prime example for the evolution of morphological diversity and innovation, in Minelli, A. and Fusco, G. (eds.) Evolving Pathways : Key Themes in Evolutionary Developmental Biology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 381-398. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541582.026

APA-Zitierstil: Prpic, N., & Damen, W. (2008). Arthropod appendages: a prime example for the evolution of morphological diversity and innovation. In Minelli, A., & Fusco, G. (Eds.), Evolving Pathways : Key Themes in Evolutionary Developmental Biology (pp. 381-398). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511541582.026