Sexual dimorphism in venom gland morphology in a sexually
stinging scorpion

J 2017

Sexual dimorphism in venom gland morphology in a sexually stinging scorpion

SENTENSKÁ, Lenka, Franziska GRABER, Miguel RICHARDS and Christian KROPF

Basic information

Original name

Sexual dimorphism in venom gland morphology in a sexually stinging scorpion

Authors

SENTENSKÁ, Lenka (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Franziska GRABER (756 Switzerland), Miguel RICHARDS (756 Switzerland) and Christian KROPF (756 Switzerland)

Edition

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Oxford, OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 2017, 0024-4066

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.532

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00098194

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blx067

UT WoS

000412186500016

Keywords in English

Euscorpius alpha; histology; scorpions; secretory cells; sexual selection; telson; venom variation

Abstract

V originále

Males of several scorpion species possess bigger telsons than females. In at least some of these species, males repeatedly sting females during mating. This behaviour (‘sexual sting’) is likely correlated with a sexual dimorphism in telson and venom gland size. In sync with natural selection theory, females possess bigger venom glands because females need more nutrients for their offspring. Hence, we hypothesize that this sexual dimorphism in venom gland size evolved under sexual selection. We investigated the morphometrics and morphology of male and female telsons and venom glands of the sexually stinging scorpion Euscorpius alpha Caporiacco, 1950 (Euscorpiidae), using light and transmission electron microscopy. Male telsons are significantly bigger and more voluminous than those of females. Varying considerably between sexes, four different kinds of secretory cells are clearly distinguishable.The female secretory epithelium consists mainly of granule-filled cells while that of the males mainly has cells containing dissolvable vesicles. This cell type probably produces transparent venom that has been identified in other scorpions as so-called ‘prevenom’. The role this “pre-venom” plays in sexual sting behaviour is addressed.

Citovat

SENTENSKÁ, Lenka, Franziska GRABER, Miguel RICHARDS and Christian KROPF. Sexual dimorphism in venom gland morphology in a sexually stinging scorpion. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Oxford: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 2017, vol. 122, No 2, p. 429-443. ISSN 0024-4066. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blx067.

@article{1394941,
   author = {Sentenská, Lenka and Graber, Franziska and Richards, Miguel and Kropf, Christian},
   article_location = {Oxford},
   article_number = {2},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blx067},
   keywords = {Euscorpius alpha; histology; scorpions; secretory cells; sexual selection; telson; venom variation},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0024-4066},
   journal = {Biological Journal of the Linnean Society},
   title = {Sexual dimorphism in venom gland morphology in a sexually stinging scorpion},
   url = {https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-abstract/122/2/429/4065459},
   volume = {122},
   year = {2017}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1394941
AU  - Sentenská, Lenka - Graber, Franziska - Richards, Miguel - Kropf, Christian
PY  - 2017
TI  - Sexual dimorphism in venom gland morphology in a sexually stinging scorpion
JF  - Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
VL  - 122
IS  - 2
SP  - 429-443
EP  - 429-443
PB  - OXFORD UNIV PRESS
SN  - 00244066
KW  - Euscorpius alpha
KW  - histology
KW  - scorpions
KW  - secretory cells
KW  - sexual selection
KW  - telson
KW  - venom variation
UR  - https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-abstract/122/2/429/4065459
L2  - https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-abstract/122/2/429/4065459
N2  - Males of several scorpion species possess bigger telsons than females. In at least some of these species, males repeatedly sting females during mating. This behaviour (‘sexual sting’) is likely correlated with a sexual dimorphism in telson and venom gland size. In sync with natural selection theory, females possess bigger venom glands because females need more nutrients for their offspring. Hence, we hypothesize that this sexual dimorphism in venom gland size evolved under sexual selection. We investigated the morphometrics and morphology of male and female telsons and venom glands of the sexually stinging scorpion Euscorpius alpha Caporiacco, 1950 (Euscorpiidae), using light and transmission electron microscopy. Male telsons are significantly bigger and more voluminous than those of females. Varying considerably between sexes, four different kinds of secretory cells are clearly distinguishable.The female secretory epithelium consists mainly of granule-filled cells while that of the males mainly has cells containing dissolvable vesicles. This cell type probably produces transparent venom that has been identified in other scorpions as so-called ‘prevenom’. The role this “pre-venom” plays in sexual sting behaviour is addressed.
ER  -

SENTENSKÁ, Lenka, Franziska GRABER, Miguel RICHARDS and Christian KROPF. Sexual dimorphism in venom gland morphology in a sexually stinging scorpion. \textit{Biological Journal of the Linnean Society}. Oxford: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 2017, vol.~122, No~2, p.~429-443. ISSN~0024-4066. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blx067.

Detailed Information on Publication Record