Furkula ( lat. Furcula ) is a jumping process of a fork-like shape on the lower part of the abdomen in some arthropods , for example, collembol [1] .
Description
It is located on the 4th abdominal segment and in a calm (undisturbed) state is bent forward and fixed in this position using a special structure called retinaculum (the hook located on the 3rd abdominal segment on the stern ). The jumping fork consists of an unpaired base (manubria), unpaired processes (dance) and a claw-shaped terminal appendage (mukro). Sometimes mukro and dance merge into a single mukrodens [1] [2] .
Function
In case of danger, furcula allows you to jump far, similar to flea jumping. This allows the collembolans to escape from the unexpectedly appeared predator. The furcle does not perform other functions.
To bend furcula back, the strength of special muscles is used.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Key to colembol fauna of the USSR. / Chernova N.M. , Striganova B.R. (editor-in-chief). - M .: Nauka, 1988 .-- S. 188-190. - 214 p. - 1300 copies. - ISBN 5-02-005245-0 .
- ↑ Christian, E. The jump of the springtails. - Naturwissenschaften, 1978. 65: 495-496.