Phenetic analysis of the stomatogastric musculature of several decapod Crustacea

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Abstract
If the evolution of the decapod Crustacea is, to a large extent, the evolution of their feeding methods, then evolutionary relationships should be reflected in the skeletal, muscular, and neural organization of the stomatogastric system. Homologies of the stomach muscles of several species of decapod Crustacea were identified by ossicle attachment sites. All species within a single infraorder were highly similar in muscle organization to each other but clear differences between infraorders were noted. A phenetic analysis yields a phenogram which reproduces the taxonomic scheme of earlier zoologists, based on independent external morphological characters. Identification of muscle relationships in this way is an essential step towards the comparative study of small motor systems producing stereotyped behaviors.