Microwhip scorpions (Palpigradi) feed on heterotrophic cyanobacteria in Slovak caves--a curiosity among Arachnida

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 16;8(10):e75989. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075989. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

To date, only morphological and anatomical descriptions of microwhip scorpions (Arachnida: Palpigradi) have been published. This very rare group is enigmatic not only in its relationships to other arachnids, but especially due to the fact that these animals dwell only underground (in caves, soil, and interstitial spaces). We observed the curious feeding habit of the microwhip scorpion Eukoenenia spelaea over the course of one year in Ardovská Cave, located in Slovakia's Karst region. We chose histology as our methodology in studying 17 specimens and based it upon Masson's triple staining, fluorescent light and confocal microscopy. Single-celled cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) were conspicuously predominant in the gut of all studied palpigrades. Digestibility of the consumed cyanobacteria was supported by the presence of guanine crystals, glycogen deposits and haemocytes inside the palpigrade body. Cyanobacteria, the oldest cellular organisms on Earth, are very resistant to severe conditions in caves, including even darkness. Therefore, the cyanobacteria are able to survive in dark caves as nearly heterotrophic organisms and are consumed by cave palpigrades. Such feeding habit is extraordinary within the almost wholly predacious orders of the class Arachnida, and particularly so due to the type of food observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caves / microbiology
  • Cyanobacteria / physiology*
  • Darkness
  • Diet
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / anatomy & histology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / physiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / ultrastructure
  • Glycogen / biosynthesis
  • Guanine / biosynthesis
  • Heterotrophic Processes / physiology*
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Scorpions / anatomy & histology
  • Scorpions / physiology*
  • Scorpions / ultrastructure
  • Slovakia

Substances

  • Guanine
  • Glycogen

Grants and funding

The study was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under contract no. VVCE-0001-07 and the NEXO (Network of Excellence in Oncology) under contract no. 007/20092.1/OPVaV and by grant MSM 0021620828 from the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.