Discovery of a Novel Accessory Structure of the Pitviper Infrared Receptor Organ (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Author(s)

Bolivar-G, Wilmar ^{[1, 2]} ; Antoniazzi, Marta M. ^[3] ; Grant, Taran ^[4] ; Jared, Carlos ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Valle, Dept Biol, Programa Posgrad, Cali, Valle Del Cauca - Colombia

^[2] Univ Valle, Grp Invest Ecol Anim, Cali, Valle Del Cauca - Colombia

^[3] Inst Butantan, Lab Biol Celular, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 9, n. 3 MAR 4 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The facial pits of rattlesnakes, copperheads, lanceheads, bushmasters and other American and Asian pitvipers (Crotalinae) are highly innervated and densely vascularized infrared (IR) receptor organs. For over a century, studies have focused on a small sample of model species from North America and Asia. Based on an expanded survey of Central and South American crotalines, we report a conspicuous accessory structure composed of well-defined papillae that project from the anterior orbital adnexa. The papillae are continuous with the inner chamber of the IR receptor organ and our histological and ultrastructural data suggest that they possess a well-developed nervous network and extensive vascularization; however, they lack the characteristic IR-sensitive terminal nerve masses found in the IR-receptive pit membrane. The function of the IR receptor organ papillae is unknown. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/10000-5 - A multi-disciplinary approach to the study of amphibian diversification
• Grantee: Taran Grant
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants