The Detection of Waterborne Vibration by Sensory Hairs on the Chelae of the Crayfish

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sensory hairs on the chelae of the Australian freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor are grouped together into pits. Electrophysiological recordings from the sensory axons of isolated chelipeds show that the hairs are maximally sensitive to water vibration frequencies between 150−300 Hz. The amplitude threshold is about 0·2 µm water molecule oscillation.