Title
Chapter Title: Arthropoda: Merostomata
Book Title: Invertebrate Histology
Author(s)
LaDouceur, Elise E. B.;Garner, Michael M.;Roorda, Katie J.;Newton, Alisa L.
Published
2021
Abstract
This class of chelicerate arthropods has only four extant species: one from North America (Limulus polyphemus, American horseshoe crab) and three from Asia (Tachypleus tridentatus, tri?spine horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas, Indo?Pacific horseshoe crab, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, mangrove horseshoe crab). Horseshoe crabs (HSC) are often referred to as “living fossils” as current forms resemble fossils dating back to the Jurassic Period approximately 200 million years ago. The body of HSC may be divided into three parts: prosoma (cephalothorax), opisthosoma (abdomen), and telson (tail). Histologically, the cuticle elevates overlying the eyes and is modified from the typical layering to form multiple cuticular cones that bulge toward and have processes extending into ommatidia, which are analogous to the retina. Several types of pigment cells are present in the compound eye and are virtually identical by light microscopy, including cells that surround cuticular cones, form the epidermis between cuticular cones, and surround retinular cells.
Keywords
chelicerate arthropods;compound eye;histologic examination;horseshoe crab

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PUB25742