Muscular anatomy of a whipspider, Phrynus longipes (Pocock) (Arachnida :Amblypygi), and its evolutionary significance

摘要

Skeletal muscles in the whipspider Phrynus longipes are sun-eyed and compared with those of other chelicerates to clarify the evolutionary morphology and phylogenetic relationships of the arachnids. Representatives of 115 muscle groups are described and illustrated, and their possible functions are proposed. Principal results of this analysis include neu functional models for the operation of the pharyngeal and sternocoxal mechanisms in Amblypygi and a greatly expanded list of apparently unique synapomorphies supporting the monophyly of Pedipalpi (=Amblypygi, Schizomida, Thelyphonida). (C) 1999 The Linnean Society of London.