Morphology, sense organs, and regeneration of the forelegs (whips) of the whip spider Heterophrynus elaphus (Arachnida, Amblypygi).

In the whip spider Heterophrynus elaphus the first pair of legs is specialized to serve sensory functions. The morphology of these "whips" and the sensory organs of their tarsi and tibiae are described using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The tarsus is normally subdivided into 74 segments and bears 7 types of sensory hairs: bristles, club sensilla, two types of porous sensilla, two types of rod sensilla, and leaflike hairs. In addition there are modified claws, 3 kinds of slit sense organs, a "pit organ," a "plate organ," and probably a joint receptor. The tibia is usually subdivided into 33 segments. In addition to bristles the tibia bears 7 trichobothria at constant locations and a lyriform slit sense organ. The functional and systematic implications of these findings are discussed.