Olfactory learning in two Amblypygi species Paraphrynus laevifrons and Phrynus pseudoparvulus

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  Olfactory learning in two Amblypygi species Paraphrynus laevifrons and Phrynus pseudoparvulus Abstract A wide diversity of arthropod taxa have demonstrated the capacity for learning, but most of our current understanding comes from only a select subset of this highly diverse clade, with most studies focusing on various insect groups. Amblypygids (Order Amblypygi, Class Arachnida), however, are emerging as a model group for studying sensory integration and the neural substrates associated with learning and memory, especially as it relates to navigation. These nocturnal creatures possess specialized sensory appendages and one of the largest and most complex mushroom bodies - the part of the arthropod brain associated with learning and memory - of any arthropod. Prior field studies on multiple species demonstrate sophisticated homing abilities while laboratory-based behavioral assays in  Phrynus marginemaculatus  confirm olfactory-based learning associated with a refuge. I...

Extraction of hemolymph by cardiac puncture: research tool in Grammostola spp. (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

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Extraction of hemolymph by cardiac puncture: research tool in Grammostola spp. (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

Abstract

This  study  focuses  on  the  collection  and  analysis  of  hemolymph  from  adult  spiders  belonging  to  the  genus  Grammostola, specifically those marketed as G.  porteri.  Using  the  cardiac  puncture technique, hemolymph was obtained without causing permanent harm to the arachnids, representing an ethical alternative to traditional extraction methods that require limb amputation. Morphological results confirmed that the specimens exhibited typical characteristics of the genus Grammostola. The protein components of the hemolymph were analyzed, showing a predominance of bands at 70 and 25 kDa. The recovery hemocytes were mainly granulocytes, and phylogenetic analyses allowed grouping of different families and genera within the suborder Mygalomorphae. Additionally, the implications of the findings on the taxonomy of G.  porteri were discussed, corroborating its classification as a synonym of G. rosea. This study not only contributes to the understanding of the diversity  and  systematics  of  tarantulas  in  Chile  but  also  proposes  an  innovative  approach  for  the  collection of genetic material, promoting more sustainable practices in arachnological research.


Herrera, D. ., Araya, J. E. . and Catalán, A. . (2025) “Extracción de hemolinfa por punción cardiaca: herramienta investigativa en <em>Grammostola</em> spp. (Araneae: Theraphosidae)”, Revista Chilena de Entomología, 51(2). Available at: https://www.biotaxa.org/rce/article/view/87423 (Accessed: 1 July 2025).