Spectacular alterations in the female reproductive system during the ovarian cycle and adaptations for matrotrophy in chernetid pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae).

ABSTRACT: Pseudoscorpions are small matrotrophic chelicerates. The embryos develop in a brood sac and feed on the nutritive fluid provided by the female. It was widely accepted that the nutritive fluid is synthesized in the ovary. Recent studies have shown that in Chelifer cancroides, a representative of Cheliferidae, considered one of the most derived pseudoscorpion families, the nutritive fluid is produced not only in the ovary but also in the oviducts. Since evolution of adaptations for matrotrophy in pseudoscorpions is poorly known, we aimed to verify our hypothesis that pseudoscorpions of the family Chernetidae, closely related to Cheliferidae, share the traits of adaptations to matrotrophy in the structure and function of the female reproductive system with C. cancroides. We analysed the struc

SUBMITTER: Garbiec A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9018881 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature