Meeting Abstract 50.3  Jan. 6  Target tracking and behavioral release of venom spitting in cobras YOUNG, Bruce/A.*; BOETIG, Melissa; WESTHOFF, Guido; Washburn University; Washburn University; University of Bonn bruce.young@washburn.edu Multiple species of African and Asiatic cobras can expel (or �spit�) their venom during defensive encounters. Previous studies have shown that this spitting behavior is consistently associated with […]

Meeting Abstract 50.10  Jan. 6  Semicircular Canal Morphology as Evidence of Locomotor Behavior in Amniotes GEORGI, Justin A; Stony Brook University, Stony Brook justin.georgi@hsc.stonybrook.edu The vestibular system is a critical component of the neural control of locomotion in vertebrates. In the vestibule, macular endorgans transduce linear movements of the head and the semicircular ducts transduce the rotational […]

Meeting Abstract 50.6  Jan. 6  On the structure and function of the inner chamber of the facial pits of pitvipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae) YOUNG, Bruce A.; FAHEY, Anna; KROCHMAL, Aaron R.*; Washburn University; Washburn University; University of Houston – Downtown krochmala@uhd.edu Pitvipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae) are named for their paired, thermally-sensitive facial pits located midway between the eye and […]

Meeting Abstract 50.7  Jan. 6  Movement and Body Stretch Encoding by Mechanosensors in Manduca sexta SIMON, M.A.**; TRIMMER, B.A.; Tufts University, Medford, MA; Tufts University, Medford, MA michael.simon@tufts.edu Caterpillars are soft-bodied, terrestrial climbers capable of a wide variety of complex movements despite a relatively simple nervous system. To navigate successfully, they must adapt their movements in response […]

Meeting Abstract 50.1  Jan. 6  Morphology and mechanism of the opercular spine locking apparatus in haematophagous candiru catfish ADRIAENS, D*; BEKAERT, K; Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent University, Belgium Dominique.Adriaens@ugent.be During early evolution of actinopterygian fishes, mouth opening enabled by the hyoid system became assisted by the opercular linkage system, coupling opercular rotation to lower jaw depression. This […]

Meeting Abstract 50.5  Jan. 6  Hydraulic Delivery of Chemicals to the Vomeronasal Organs in Squamate Reptiles: A Comparative Morphological Study FILORAMO, N.I.; SCHWENK, K.**; Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs; Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs kurt.schwenk@uconn.edu Despite growing evidence for the importance of vomeronasal chemoreception in the sociobiology of lizards and snakes, the biomechanics of this process are poorly understood. […]

Meeting Abstract 50.8  Jan. 6  Death roll of the alligator: mechanics of a new twist on an old spin FISH, F.E.*; BOSTIC, S.A.; NICASTRO, A.J.; BENESKI, J.T.; West Chester University; West Chester University; West Chester University; West Chester University ffish@wcupa.edu Crocodilians, including the alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), perform a spinning maneuver to subdue and dismember prey. The spinning […]

Meeting Abstract 49.1  Jan. 6  the effect of summer storms on the recruitment success of fiddler crabs BRODIE, R. *; GODLEY, J.; Mount Holyoke College rbrodie@mtholyoke.edu The estuarine fiddler crabs, Uca minax, U. pugnax and U. pugilator, have complex life cycles spanning vastly different salinity regimes. Larvae are spawned in estuaries and travel to the coastal ocean […]

Meeting Abstract 49.8  Jan. 6  Tolerance of the Early Life History Stages of to Environmental Conditions: Possible Limits to Dispersal SMART, T.I.; University of Oregon tsmart@uoregon.edu Exposure to extreme environmental conditions has been shown to cause lethal and sub-lethal effects on survival and development in marine invertebrates, affecting both dispersal and abundance. is a tube-building polychaete found […]

Meeting Abstract 49.4  Jan. 6  Siblicide in Crepidula coquimbensis (Gastropoda): the role of multipaternity BRANTE, Antonio*; FREDERIQUE , Viard; FERNANDEZ, Miriam; Pont. Univ. Catolica de Chile; Station Biologique de Roscoff; Pont. Univ. Catolica de Chile abrante@bio.puc.cl Sibling cannibalism during intracapsular development is a common strategy observed across different marine invertebrate taxa. It is still an open question […]