| Abstract: | Cuticle structures of A. marina and A. martima are discussed, the differences are correlated with a greater tolerance of desiccation in A. maritima. The cuticle ornamentation of A. maritima can trap a layer of water-saturated air thus slowing down water loss and allowing it to forage in the drier upper littoral, while A. marina, without a layer of water saturated air, is confined to more humid habitats in the lower littoral. Both species have a compressible macroplastron supported by major tubercles, as well as a much thinner microplastron supported by minor tubercles which is more resistant to wetting by pressure and surfactants. The plastrons are shown to be preadaptations to the littoral zone. |
