Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Neuroethology of the Spider Vibration Sense

  • Chapter
Neurobiology of Arachnids

Abstract

Spiders are not the favorite animals of most people. Despite much irrational antipathy, however, generally one finds admiration for the beauty shown by the regular cartwheel geometry of the orb web and for the swiftness and precision of spiders that are lured and guided to prey by the slightest vibrations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Babu KS, Barth FG (1984) Neuroanatomy of the central nervous system of the wandering spider, Cupiennius salei (Arachnida, Araneida). Zoomorphology 104:344–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth FG (1972) Die Physiologie der Spaltsinnesorgane. II. Funktionelle Morphologie eines Mechanoreceptors. J Comp Physiol 81:159–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth FG (1982) Spiders and vibratory signals: Sensory reception and behavioral significance. In: Witt PN, Rovner JS (eds) Spider communication: mechanisms and ecological significance. Princeton Univ Press, Princeton, NJ, pp 67–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth FG, Blickhan R (1984) Mechanoreception. In: Bereiter-Hahn J, Matoltsy AG, Richards KS (eds) Biology of the integument, vol I. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 554–582

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Barth FG, Geethabali (1982) Spider vibration receptors: Threshold curves of individual slits in the metatarsal lyriform organ. J Comp Physiol 148:175–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth FG, Seyfarth E-A (1979) Cupiennius salei Keys. (Araneae) in the highlands of Central Guatemala. J Arachnol 7:255–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleckmann H, Barth FG (1984) Sensory ecology of a semiaquatic spider (Dolomedes triton). II. The release of predatory behavior by water surface waves. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 14:303–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleckmann H, Müller U, Hoin-Radkovski I (1984) Determination of source distance by surface-feeding fishes Aplocheilus lineatus (Cyprinodontidae) and Pantodon buchholzi (Pantodontidae). In: Varju D, Schnitzler U (eds) Orientation and localization in engineering and biology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 66–68

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bleckmann H, Rovner JS (1984) Sensory ecology of a semiaquatic spider (Dolomedes triton). I. Roles of vegetation and wind-generated waves in site selection. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 14:297–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleckmann H, Schwartz E (1982) The functional significance of frequency modulation within a wave train for prey localization in the surface-feeding fish Aplocheilus lineatus (Cyprinodontidae). J Comp Physiol 145:331–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brownell PH (1977) Compressional and surface waves in sand used by desert scorpions to locate prey. Science 197:4303–4304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brownell P, Farley RD (1979a) Detection of vibrations in sand by tarsal sense organs of the nocturnal scorpion, Paruroctonus mesaensis. J Comp Physiol 131:23–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brownell P, Farley RD (1979b) Orientation to vibrations in sand by the nocturnal scorpion Paruroctonus mesaensis: mechanism of target localization. J Comp Physiol 131:31–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cremer L, Heckl M, Ungar EE (1973) Structure-borne sound. Structural vibrations and sound radiation at audio frequencies. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Foelix RF (1970) Chemosensitive hairs in spiders. J Morphol 132:313–334

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Görner P, Andrews P (1969) Trichobothrien, ein Ferntastsinnesorgan bei Webespinnen. Z Vergl Physiol 64:301–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hergenröder R, Barth FG (1983a) The release of attack and escape behavior by vibratory stimuli in a wandering spider (Cupiennius salei Keys.) J Comp Physiol 152:347–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hergenröder R, Barth FG (1983b) Vibratory signals and spider behavior: How do the sensory inputs from the eight legs interact in orientation? J Comp Physiol 152:361–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoin-Radkovsky I, Bleckmann H, Schwartz E (1984) Determination of source distance in the surface-feeding fish Pantodon buchholzi Pantodontidae. Anim Behav 32:840–851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keuper A, Kühne R (1983) The acoustic behavior of the bushcricket Tettigonia cantans II. Transmission of airborne-sound and vibration signals in the biotope. Behav Proc 8:125–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klärner D, Barth FG (1982) Vibratory signals and prey capture in orb-weaving spiders (Zygiella x-notata, Nephila clavipes; Araneidae) J Comp Physiol 148:445–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krafft B (1978) The recording of vibratory signals performed by spiders during courtship. Sym Zool Lond 42:59–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang HH (1977) Mechanismen der Beuteerkennung und der intraspezifischen Kommunikation bei der räuberischen Wasserwanze Notonecta glauca L und ihre Rolle bei der Aufrechterhaltung der Populationsstruktur. Dissertation, Univ Konstanz, Konstanz

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang HH (1980) Surface wave discrimination between prey and nonprey by the backswimmer Notonecta glauca L (Hemiptera, Heteroptera). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 6:233–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liesenfeld FJ (1956) Untersuchungen am Netz und über den Erschütterungssinn von Zygiella x-notata (CI) (Araneidae) Z Vergl Physiol 38:563–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liesenfeld FJ (1961) Über Leistungen und Sitz des Erschütterungssinnes von Netzspinnen. Biol Zentralbl 80:465–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Markl H (1973) Leistungen des Vibrationssinnes bei wirbellosen Tieren. Fortsehr Zool 21: 100–120

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Markl H (1983) Vibrational communication. In: Huber F, Markl H (eds) Neuroethology and behavioral physiology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo, pp 332–353

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Masters MW (1984a) Vibrations in the orb web of Nuctenea sclopetaria (Araneidae). I. Transmission through the web. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 15:207–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masters MW (1984b) Vibrations in the orb web of Nuctenea sclopetaria (Araneidae) II. Prey and wind signals and the spider’s response threshold. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 15:217–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masters MW, Markl H (1981) Vibration signal transmission in spider orb webs. Science 213:363–365

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melchers M (1967) Der Beutefang von Cupiennius salei Keys. Z Morphol Oekol Tiere 58:321–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michelsen A, Fink F, Gogala M, Traue D (1982) Plants as transmission channels for insect vibrational songs. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 11:269–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphey RK (1973) Mutual inhibition and the organization of a nonvisual orientation in Notonecta. J Comp Physiol 84:31–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roemer van de A (1980) Eine vergleichende morphologische Untersuchung an dem für die Vibrationswahrnehmung wichtigen Distalbereich des Spinnenbeines. Diplomarbeit, Univ Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main

    Google Scholar 

  • Roland Ch, Rovner JS (1983) Chemical and vibratory communication in the aquatic pisaurid spider Dolomedes triton (Araneae: Pisauridae). J Arachnol 11:77–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Rovner JS, Barth FG (1981) Vibratory communication through living plants by a tropical wandering spider. Science 214:464–466

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schüch W, Barth FG (1985) Temporal patterns in the vibratory courtship of a wandering spider (Cupiennius salei Keys.). Behav Ecol Sociobiol (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Skudrzyk E (1971) The foundations of acoustics. Springer, Wien

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sommerfeld A (1970) Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik, Bd 2, Mechanik der deformierbaren Medien. Akad Verlagsges, Leipzig

    Google Scholar 

  • Speck J, Barth FG (1982) Vibration sensitivity of pretarsal slit sensilla in the spider leg. J Comp Physiol 148:187–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suter RB (1978) Cyclosa turbinata (Araneae, Araneidae): Prey discrimination via web-borne vibrations. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 3:283–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tretzel E (1961a) Biologie, Ökologie und Brutpflege von Coelotes terrestris (Wider) (Araneae: Agelenidae). II. Brutpflege. Z Morphol Oekol Tiere 50:375–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uetz GW, Stratton GE (1982) Acoustic communication and reproductive isolation in spiders. In: Witt PN, Rovner JS (eds) Spider communication: Mechanisms and ecological significance. Princeton Univ Press, Princeton, NJ, pp 123–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Vollrath F (1979a) Behavior of the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes elevaîus (Araneae, Theridiidae). Anim Behav 27:515–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vollrath F (1979b) Vibrations: their signal function for a spider kleptoparasite. Science 205:1149–1151

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiese K (1974) The mechanoreceptive system of prey localization in Notonecta. J Comp Physiol 92:317–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut, J. W. Goethe-Universität, Gruppe Sinnesphysiologie, Siesmayerstraße 70, D-6000, Frankfurt am Main 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Friedrich G. Barth

Authors
  1. Friedrich G. Barth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut, Fachbereich Biologie, J.-W.-Goethe-Universität, Siesmayerstraße 70, D-6000, Frankfurt am Main 1, Germany

    Friedrich G. Barth

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Barth, F.G. (1985). Neuroethology of the Spider Vibration Sense. In: Barth, F.G. (eds) Neurobiology of Arachnids. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70348-5_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70348-5_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-70350-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-70348-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation