The structure of the cuticle of the scorpion Pandinus imperator (Koch)

Frozen and celloidin sections of the cuticle of Pandinus have been examined by means of phase contrast microscopy. The massive cuticle of the pedipalp, and the thinner cuticle of sterna and terga, show a random arrangement of fibres in the horizontal plane, whereas in the cylindrical podomeres of the legs the fibres are parallel and disposed along the length of the podomere. The laminae appear to be composed of horizontally arranged fibres, possibly associated with a laminar membrane. Curved continuous sheets of fibres pass from one lamina to the next through the interlaminar region.