ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Recent physiological studies on the crayfish Procambarus clarki (Girard), Astacura, Decapoda, have suggested the existence of certain anomalies between the classical interpretation of the segmentation of the crayfish and the more recently established segmental innervation patterns. An extensive reinvestigation of the skeletal segmentation has been undertaken, based on the dissection of both fresh and fixed specimens of this and two other crayfish species, to decide to what extent misinterpretation of the skeletal structure might provide an explanation of these apparent anomalies.As a result of this attempt to provide a self- consistent analysis of the crayfish skeleton, it has been necessary to conclude that the epimeral plate is tergal rather than pleural in origin, that the basal segment of the thoracic legs contains a subcoxal element, that this subcoxa exists as a free leg segment in the last thoracic legs and that the abdominal pleural folds are in part homologous with the subcoxae of the thorax. On the other hand it has not been necessary to diverge from the classical account of the segmentation, except to recognize the existence of a seventh abdominal segment (segment XXI) posterior to the uropod segment.
Additional Material:
7 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051160307
Permalink