The lyriform organ of the orb-weaving spider A r a n e o u s s e r i c a t u s: Vibration sensitivity is altered by bending the leg

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Abstract
The patella of the spider A. sericatus contains a lyriform organ which responds to vibrations applied to the tip of the leg. Single unit activity indicates that this sense organ has an elevated threshold when the leg is bent toward the cepalothorax. The leg appears to function like a mechanical attenuator in which its position determines the efficiency of stimulating the lyriform organ. This system would allow spiders to exert control over the vibrational input by merely varying the position of their legs.

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