MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURES ON THE INTEGUMENT OF MESONISCUS GRANIGER

• Main Authors: ANDREI GIURGINCA, VLADIMIR ŠUSTR, KAREL TAJOVSKÝ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editura Academiei Romane 2017-02-01
• Series: Travaux de l'Institut de Speologie Emile Racovitza
• Subjects: Mesoniscus graniger; SEM; integument morphological structures
• Online Access: http://www.speotravaux.iser.ro/16/art05.pdf

The integument surface of the cavernicolous terrestrial isopod Mesoniscus graniger collected in the Magura and Zidita caves, Romania, was investigated using the SEM. Almost the entire body surface is covered by honeycomb-like polygonal scales arranged like a net. Only two fields on both sides of the cephalon have a smoother structure with less pronounced and somewhat morphologically altered scale microstructures. Tricorns, the morphological characteristic for isopod body surfaces, were not observed. The surface granules looking as a ring or chalice of partly elevated scales with a brush or spine-like structures or setae in the center were documented as almost regularly arranged structure on the whole body. Possible functions of these structures are discussed.