EVOLUTIONARY STRATEGIES OF THE ANTENNAE IN TERRESTRIAL ISOPODS

The conquest of terrestrial habitats by the Oniscidea necessitated the development of a moisturemonitoring system. This function is ascribed to the flagellar aesthetascs present on both first and second antennae, in addition to their olfactory function. The extreme diminution of the first antennae prevents them from being inactivated by predator actions, thus guaranteeing the vital monitoring of moisture-gradients in case the second antennae are destroyed by predators.