Antennae-whipping behavior in the American lobster, Homarus Americanus (Milne-Edwards)
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-1980
Abstract
Electrophysiological techniques were employed to demonstrate that an acrylic coating blocks the mechanosensory activity of the cuticular hair organs on the chelipeds of Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards) without eliciting spurious activity in their innervation. Agonistic encounters between animals with acrylic on the dorsal surface of the claws (experimental), on the ventral surface of the claws ("plastic" control), and absent ("bare" control) were observed. Experimental animals responded to <3% of all antennae-whips, while "plastic" control animals responded to 73%, and "bare" control animals to 64%, of all antennae-whips. We conclude that antennae-whipping is a form of tactile communication, in which information probably is received through mechanosensory activity in the cuticular hair organs on the dorsal surface of the chelipeds. © 1980.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Volume
48
Issue
3
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Solon, Michael H., and J. S. Cobb. "Antennae-whipping behavior in the American lobster, Homarus Americanus (Milne-Edwards)." Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 48, 3 (1980): 217-224. doi: 10.1016/0022-0981(80)90076-3.