Comparative microscopic anatomy of Schizomida – 1. Segmental axial musculature and body organization

Abstract

Schizomida is an enigmatic group of arachnids that is traditionally considered the dwarfed sister to Thelyphonida. Schizomids are of interest for evolutionary morphology, because they show a number of features like a tripartite prosoma dorsal shield (pro-, meso-, metapeltidium), formation of three sterna, a complex prosoma–opisthosoma transition and a metasoma. By analyzing the body organization of Schizomida and comparing it to Thelyphonida and other arachnids, this article provides evidence for independent evolution of some of these features in Schizomida. This supports the idea that, among arachnids, multiple and independent evolutionary pathways have resulted in similar morphologies, that conventionally have been considered shared similarities. – The analysis of serial microscopic sections and μCT-imaging of segmental indicator muscles of the prosoma evidences that the propeltidium covers prosoma segments 0–4, and the metapeltidium covers segments 5 and 6. The mesopeltidium is a dorsolateral sclerotization of the pleural membrane, not assigned to a segment, and therefore not a tergite. The topographic association of segmental musculature and sclerites of the tripartite dorsum of the prosoma differs from other taxa with such external body organization, e.g., Palpigradi and Solifugae, suggesting independent evolutionary origin. – The prosoma–opisthosoma transition integrates the first opisthosoma segment into the prosoma. The sternite of the first opisthosoma segment forms the metasternum between the coxae of the fourth pair of walking legs. The morphology of the prosoma–opisthosoma transition is similar to Uropygi and Amblypygi, but is less complex. – The morphology of the metasoma (opisthosoma segments X-XII) of Schizomida and Thelyphonida differs from that of all other arachnids carrying a metasoma, thus providing support for multiple independent evolutionary origins of metasomata.