The effect of temperature on the temporal structure of the vibratory courtship signals of a spider (Cupiennius salei Keys.)

1996 ◽  
Vol 179 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Shimizu ◽  
F.G. Barth
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Structure ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Cupiennius Salei ◽  
Courtship Signals ◽  
Spider Cupiennius Salei

THE QUALITY OF VISION IN THE CTENID SPIDER CUPIENNIUS SALEI

1992 ◽  
Vol 164 (1) ◽  
pp. 227-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. LAND ◽  
F. G. BARTH
Keyword(s):  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Cupiennius Salei ◽  
Quality Of Vision ◽  
Visual Behaviour ◽  
Similar Range ◽  
Retinal Resolution ◽  
Spider Cupiennius Salei ◽  
Median Eyes

Much is known about the mechanosensory behaviour of the spider Cupiennius Keyserling, but much less about its visual capabilities. In this study the quality of the optical image, the retinal resolution and the fields of view were assessed for each of the four pairs of eyes. The image is of good quality in all eyes. The principal (antero-median) eyes lack a tapetum and have an inter-receptor angle of 2.9°. The three secondary eyes (antero-lateral, postero-median and posterolateral) all have ‘gridiron’ tapeta with receptors arranged in rows. The angular separations (along rows × between rows) are 3.6° × 9.3°, 0.9° × 2.3° and 1.0° × 3.0°, respectively. Although the disposition of eyes on the head is similar to that of pisaurid spiders, all other features of the eyes, including the sizes and shapes of the fields of view, resemble those of lycosid spiders. The peripheral visual system of Cupiennius can thus, in principle, support a similar range of visual behaviour to that of lycosids, which includes prey capture, predator avoidance and courtship.

Intracellular characterization of identified sensory cells in a new spider mechanoreceptor preparation

1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1422-1427 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Seyfarth ◽  
A. S. French
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Sense Organ ◽  
Sensory Cells ◽  
Cupiennius Salei ◽  
Bursting Neuron ◽  
Sensory Structures ◽  
Spider Cupiennius Salei

1. We have developed an isolated mechanoreceptor-organ preparation in which the intact sensory structures are available for mechanical stimulation and electrical recording. The anterior lyriform slit sense organ on the patella of the spider, Cupiennius salei Keys., consists of seven or eight cuticular slits, each innervated by a pair of large bipolar sensory neurons. The neurons are fusiform, and the largest somata are < or = 120 microns long. The innervation of the organ was characterized by light microscopy of neurons backfilled with neuronal tracers. Intracellular recording was used to measure the passive and active electrical properties of the neurons, in several cases followed by identification with Lucifer yellow injection. Both neurons of each pair from one slit responded with action potentials to depolarization by a step current injection. Approximately half of the sensory neurons adapted very rapidly and generated only one or two action potentials in response to a sustained depolarizing step, while a second group produced a burst of action potentials that adapted to silence in approximately 1 s or less. Recordings from identified neuron pairs indicated that each pair consists of one rapidly adapting and one bursting neuron. Measurements of cell membrane impedances and time constants produced estimates of neuronal size that agreed with the morphological measurements. This new preparation offers the possibility of characterizing the mechanisms underlying transduction and adaptation in primary mechanosensory neurons.

Biochemistry, toxicology and ecology of the venom of the spider Cupiennius salei (Ctenidae)

Toxicon ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 543-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Kuhn-Nentwig ◽  
Johann Schaller ◽  
Wolfgang Nentwig
Keyword(s):  
Cupiennius Salei ◽  
Spider Cupiennius Salei
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