Neurobiology of Arachnids

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XI

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2. The Central Nervous System: Structure and Development

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Patterns of Arrangement and Connectivity in the Central Nervous System of Arachnids

      • K. Sasira Babu

      Pages 3-19

   3. Ontogeny of the Arachnid Central Nervous System

      • Peter Weygoldt

      Pages 20-37

   4. The Stomatogastric Nervous System and Neurosecretion

      • Roland Legendre

      Pages 38-49

3. Structure and Function of Sensory Systems

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 51-51

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   2. Vision

      1. The Morphology and Optics of Spider Eyes

         • M. F. Land

         Pages 53-78

      2. The Fine Structure of Spider Photoreceptors in Relation to Function

         • A. David Blest

         Pages 79-102

      3. Photoreceptor Cells in the Spider Eye: Spectral Sensitivity and Efferent Control

         • Shigeki Yamashita

         Pages 103-117

   3. Mechano- and Chemoreception

      1. Mechano- and Chemoreceptive Sensilla

         • R. F. Foelix

         Pages 118-137

      2. Trichobothria

         • Andreas Reissland, Peter Görner

         Pages 138-161

      3. Slit Sensilla and the Measurement of Cuticular Strains

         • Friedrich G. Barth

         Pages 162-188

   4. Sensory Nerves and Peripheral Synapses

      1. Sensory Nerves and Peripheral Synapses

         • R. F. Foelix

         Pages 189-200

4. Senses and Behavior

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 201-201

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   2. Neuroethology of the Spider Vibration Sense

      • Friedrich G. Barth

      Pages 203-229

   3. Spider Proprioception: Receptors, Reflexes, and Control of Locomotion

      • Ernst-August Seyfarth

      Pages 230-248

   4. Target Discrimination in Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae)

      • Lyn Forster

      Pages 249-274

   5. Homing Behavior and Orientation in the Funnel-Web Spider, Agelena labyrinthica Clerck

      • Peter Görner, Barbara Claas

      Pages 275-297

   6. Analytical Cybernetics of Spider Navigation

      • Horst Mittelstaedt

      Pages 298-316

5. The Motor System

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 317-317

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Arachnids rarely come to mind when one discusses arthropod neurobiology. In fact much more is now known and written about the nervous systems of insects and crustaceans. Several arguments have led us to conclude, however, that the time has come to document impor­ tant aspects of the neurobiology of spiders, scorpions, and their kin, as well. Studies of arachnid neurobiology have made considerable progress since the last comprehensive treatment by Bullock and Horridge in their monumental monograph on invertebrate nervous systems pub­ lished in 1965. This is especially true for research performed in the last decade. Several problems related to the structure and function of arachnid nervous and sensory systems have now been studied in con­ siderable depth but have so far not been given adequate space under one cover. A particular incentive to produce this book has been the impor­ tance attributed to comparative approaches in neurobiology. Neglect­ ing a large taxonomic group such as the arachnids - which comprises some 60,000 species living a wide range of different lives - would mean ignoring an enormous potential source of knowledge. In writing the chapters of this book we have striven to present some of the unique features of the arachnids. But the result of our efforts is not just meant to contribute to an understanding of the particularities of the arach­ nids.

• Neurobiology
• biology
• Crustacea
• development
• ethology
• insects
• morphology
• muscle
• nervous system
• neurobiology
• neurosecretion
• receptor
• system

• Zoologisches Institut, Fachbereich Biologie, J.-W.-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main 1, Germany

  Friedrich G. Barth

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