Limnognathia

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an extremely useful tool to obtain information about the 3-dimensional organization of an animal or a prepared organ. The object is placed on a small aluminium stub inside the microscope and is subsequently bombarded with electrons that are reflected so they produce a picture of the object on a monitor. While the object is inside the microscope it can be rotated and tilted so it is possible to observe it from different angles. Despite their minute size the jaws of L. maerski can be prepared for SEM by placing the animal in a small drop of dilute commercial chlorine. After a few minutes all soft tissues will be dissolved leaving only the hard jaw parts. When the animal is dissolved the chlorine is removed with a very fine pipette and the jaws are carefully rinsed with distilled water. The SEM-investigations of the jaws in L. maerski have been a very valuable method to understand the complex morphology.

SEM-photographs showing the jaws from four different specimens of Limnognathia maerski. Fig. A shows the jaws in dorsal view, B in lateral view, and C and D in ventral view.

Click on the pictures to enlarge and see labels on the different jaw elements.

Scanning electron microscopy