Jet-propulsion in anisopteran dragonfly larvae (original) (raw)
Summary
Jet-propulsion in dragonfly larvae is achieved by the rapid ejection of water from a specialised rectal chamber via the anus, at a frequency of up to 2.2 cycles/s. Movement, forward thrust and muscular activity have been recorded in restrained and free-swimming larvae. Forward thrusts of up to 1.5 g wt result from the expiratory phases of cycles lasting 0.1 to 0.4 s. Swimming velocities are in the order of 10 cm/s. The following muscles are shown to be active during expiratory phases of jetting: anterior, posterior and respiratory dorso-ventrals; primary and secondary longitudinal tergals; lateral primary longitudinal sternopleural; dorso-ventral oblique; ventral adductors of the anal appendages. The sub-intestinal muscle is active during the inspiratory phases of jetting. Activity recorded is compared with that found during normal ventilation. The larval jet-propulsive mechanism is compared with that of certain cephalopods and found to be very effective for the larva's relatively small size.
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Author notes
- R. S. Pickard
Present address: Department of Zoology, University College, Cardiff, Wales
Authors and Affiliations
- Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, University of Leeds, England
P. J. Mill & R. S. Pickard
Authors
- P. J. Mill
- R. S. Pickard
Additional information
R. S. P. wishes to thank the Science Research Council for a studentship during the tenure of which the above work was carried out.
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Mill, P.J., Pickard, R.S. Jet-propulsion in anisopteran dragonfly larvae.J. Comp. Physiol. 97, 329–338 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00631969
- Received: 17 December 1974
- Issue date: December 1975
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00631969