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Ecologically Driven Ultrastructural and Hydrodynamic Designs in Stomatopod Cuticles
Author(s) -
Grunenfelder Lessa Kay,
Milliron Garrett,
Herrera Steven,
Gallana Isaias,
Yaraghi Nicholas,
Hughes Nigel,
EvansLutterodt Kenneth,
Zavattieri Pablo,
Kisailus David
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201705295
Subject(s) - appendage , biology , predation , ecology , adaptation (eye) , neuroscience
Ecological pressures and varied feeding behaviors in a multitude of organisms have necessitated the drive for adaptation. One such change is seen in the feeding appendages of stomatopods, a group of highly predatory marine crustaceans. Stomatopods include “spearers,” who ambush and snare soft bodied prey, and “smashers,” who bludgeon hard‐shelled prey with a heavily mineralized club. The regional substructural complexity of the stomatopod dactyl club from the smashing predator Odontodactylus scyllarus represents a model system in the study of impact tolerant biominerals. The club consists of a highly mineralized impact region, a characteristic Bouligand architecture (common to arthropods), and a unique section of the club, the striated region, composed of highly aligned sheets of mineralized fibers. Detailed ultrastructural investigations of the striated region within O. scyllarus and a related species of spearing stomatopod, Lysiosquillina maculate show consistent organization of mineral and organic, but distinct differences in macro‐scale architecture. Evidence is provided for the function and substructural exaptation of the striated region, which facilitated redeployment of a raptorial feeding appendage as a biological hammer. Moreover, given the need to accelerate underwater and “grab” or “smash” their prey, the spearer and smasher appendages are specifically designed with a significantly reduced drag force.