@article {1771, title = {A previously unknown feeding mode in millipedes and the convergence of fluid feeding across arthropods}, journal = {Science Advances}, volume = {8}, year = {2022}, month = {16/02/2022}, pages = {1-9}, abstract = {

We report fluid feeding with a sucking pump in the arthropod class Diplopoda, using a combination of synchrotron tomography, histology, electron microscopy, and three-dimensional reconstructions. Within the head of nine species of the enigmatic Colobognatha, we found a pumping chamber, which acts as positive displacement pump and is notably similar to that of insects, showing even fine structural convergences. The sucking pump of these millipedes works together with protractible mouthparts and externally secreted saliva for the acquisition of liquid food. Fluid feeding is one of the great evolutionary innovations of terrestrial arthropods, and our study suggests that it evolved with similar biomechanical solutions convergent across all major arthropod taxa. While fluid-feeding insects are megadiverse today, it remains unclear why other lineages, such as Colobognatha, are comparably species poor.

}, issn = {2375-2548}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm0577}, url = {https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abm0577}, author = {Moritz, Leif and Borisova, Elena and Hammel, J{\"o}rg U. and Blanke, Alexander and Wesener, Thomas} } @article {1049, title = {First steps toward suctorial feeding in millipedes: Comparative morphology of the head of the Platydesmida (Diplopoda: Colobognatha)}, journal = {Invertebrate Biology}, year = {2021}, month = {04/02/2021}, pages = {1-21}, abstract = {

Although most millipedes (Diplopoda) show a biting\–chewing feeding mode, representatives of the so-called Colobognatha (Platydesmida, Polyzoniida, Siphonocryptida, Siphonophorida), with their more or less reduced mouthparts, are assumed to have evolved a suctorial feeding mode, which enables them to exploit food sources like algal film and fungi hyphae. The Platydesmida are viewed as the key taxon for the understanding of mouthpart adaptations in Colobognatha, as their mouthpart elements still closely resemble those of biting\–chewing millipedes. Studies of the skeletomuscular system of the Platydesmida are rare, impeding further understanding of the mouthpart evolution in millipedes. To overcome this impediment in the understanding of millipede evolution, we study the internal morphology of the head in specimens from four genera of Platydesmida: Brachycybe lecontii, Dolistenus spp., Gosodesmus claremontus, and Pseudodesmus spp. Although all Platydesmida show similarly structured skeletal elements and accompanying musculature, they are distinct from all other Diplopoda. Their head lacks eyes and organs of T\öm\ösv\áry, and is pyriform and posteriorly bulging, overlapping the collum. The narrow mandibles are hidden underneath the broad genae. A previously described gnathochilarial postmentum is absent. Muscle attachment sites, such as the transverse mandibular tendon and the median septum, are reduced. The strong modifications of the head capsule, mandibles, and musculature limit the movability of the mandible for biting\–chewing motions based on simulations of possible gape angles. Platydesmida likely show a scraping and slurping feeding mode, which is facilitated by the comparably well-developed pharyngeal dilator muscles. We suggest that the Platydesmida show an intermediate state between the biting\–chewing millipedes and the other suctorially feeding Colobognatha.

}, keywords = {Functional morphology, mandible, micro-CT, musculature, tentorium}, issn = {1077-8306}, doi = {10.1111/ivb.12312}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ivb.12312}, author = {Moritz, Leif and Blanke, Alexander and Hammel, J{\"o}rg U. and Wesener, Thomas} }