Multiple factors influence claw characteristics in oribatid mites (Acari).

ABSTRACT: Claws, as nature's multifaceted instruments, play fundamental roles across the animal kingdom, aiding in prey capture and enabling movement across diverse terrains. Claw features often reflect the ecologies of the respective taxa and thus can provide important insights into the different lifestyles. This study explores the claw morphology of monodactylous oribatid mites through geometric morphometrics, analyzing 559 specimens from 49 species across various ecosystems. The research identifies distinct claw characteristics associated with specific habitats, revealing a significant correlation between claw morphology and the mites' environmental adaptations. Littoral mites exhibit notably larger claws compared to terrestrial counterparts, with aquatic and semiaquatic species presenting interm

SUBMITTER: Kerschbaumer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10985006 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature