• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.1427-1432
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• 2008

This paper describes the locomotion of a water jumping robot which attempts to emulate the fishing spider’s ability to jump on the water surface. While previous studies of the robots mimicking arthropods living on water were focused on recreating their horizontal skating motions, here we aim to achieve a vertical jumping motion. The robot jumps by pushing the water surface with rapidly released legs which were initially bent. The motion is triggered with a latch driven by the shape memory alloy actuator. The robot is capable of jumping to the maximum height of 26mm. Jumping efficiency, defined the maximum jumping height on water over the maximum jumping height on rigid ground, is 0.26 This work represents a first step toward robots that can locomote on water with superior versatility including skating and jumping.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2009

The cuticle of spider's exoskeleton is a hydrophobic and non-adhesive material, but the jumping spiders have the distinctive attachment apparatus for adhesion on smooth dry surface without sticky fluids. We have examined the whole tarsal appendages of the jumping spider, Plexippus setipes with using scanning electron microscope to reveal the fine structural characteristics of the dry adhesion system. All eight legs have the scopulae with a pair of claws on the tip of feet. Each scopula is composed of two groups of setae that are capable of dry adhesion on smooth surface, and the hook structure of the claw is advanced to move on the rough surface. The setae toward the bottom of the tarsal segment are densely covered by numerous setules on the underside which broadened from middle to distal portion. It has been revealed by this research that the contact area of the setule is always a triangular shape, and these cuticular surfaces are connected by the elongated stalks from the underlying setae. It is likely that the nano-scale structures including a triangular depression and a longitudinal groove on each setule could functionate when the spider detach its feet from the substrate.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.411-414
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• 1998

One novel species, Phaeacius yunnanensis n. sp. and three species new to China, Brettus albolimbattus, Hyllus lacertosus and Ptocasius kinhi of the jumping spider.belonging to the family Salticidae, are described based on the materials collected from Yunnan Province, China. The new species is similar to Phaecius lancerarius, but can be distinguished by secondary conductor covers on the emblus. That of the latter below the emblous, retro1aterial tibial apophysis, is much more slender and with an abdominal pattern.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2009

Fine structure of the dry adhesion system in the tarsal appendages of the jumping spider Plexippus setipes (Araneae: Salticidae) with examined using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The jumping spiders have the distinctive attachment apparatus for adhesion on smooth dry surface without sticky fluids. They attach to rough substrates using tarsal claws, however attachment on smooth surfaces is achieved by means of a tuft-like hair called a scopula. All eight legs have the scopulae with a pair of claws on the tip of feet, and each scopula is composed of two groups of setae that are capable of dry adhesion on smooth surface. The apex of each seta is flattened pad bearing many specialized adhesive setules on one side. The cuticular sensillae are interspersed at the dorsal surface of the seta. It has been revealed by this research that the contact area of the setule is always a triangular shape, and these cuticular surfaces are connected by the elongated stalks from the underlying setae. Moreover, adhesion between the numerous setules and the setae was prevented by the microscopic hairs, since these were interspersed on the upper side of the setae.

• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2000

Spiders usually have poor vision but not the jumping spiders. Their eight eyes are located on its distinctive box-shaped head and relatively well developed. The Spiders were fixated with 3% glutaraldehyde and thin section was performed with ultra-microtome. The specimens were observed with light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Eye area of jumping spider is competed of three rows. The first eye row comprise four eyes. Among them, two anterior median eyes are the largest and two anterior lateral eyes are relatively small. The former are main-eyes and have excellent vision. The second row, which has the two smallest eyes, is located about midway between the first and third rows. The third row is about half-way back on the thorax and eyed of which are middle size. To investigate ultrastructure of salticid spiders'eye, Menemerus fulvus was chosen. All of Menemerus fuvus's eyes are composed of cornea, lens, vitreous body and retina in histologically. Cornea layer, linked to exocuticle of exoskeleton. is regular layer structure without any cell tripe. Lenses are biconvex type. Retinas comprise well developed microvilli-shape rhabdomeres, unpigmented supporting cells, and pigmented cell. Retinas of anterior median eyes are surrounded by circular cylinder-shaped vitreous body, photoreceptor, i.e. rhabdomeres, of it is irregularly arranged compared to the other eyes.