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Jet-propulsion in anisopteran dragonfly larvae

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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

  1. R. S. Pickard

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University College, Cardiff, Wales

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, University of Leeds, England

    P. J. Mill & R. S. Pickard

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  1. P. J. Mill
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  2. R. S. Pickard
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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

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00631969

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