Figure 1

Open capillaries on the legs of Ligia exotica.

(a) An digital photograph of Ligia exotica used in this study taken by Dr. Horiguchi. (b) Illustrations of Ligia exotica depicted by Dr. Horiguchi; side and ventral views. (c) Sequence of images showing water transport through open capillaries on the 5^th podite of a freshly isolated VI leg. (d) Combined SEM image of the VI leg comprising the six podites: the dactylopodite (1^st podite), the propodite (2^nd podite), the carpopodite (3^rd podite), the mieropodite (4^th podite), the ischiopodite (5^th podite) and the basipodite (6^th podite). (e–j) SEM images of open capillaries; (e) the two different cuticular protrusions were observed in the open capillaries of the 4^th podite, (f) a hair-like protrusion (HLP) located at the edge of the jointand (g) a paddle-like protrusion (PLP) located at the centre. (h) The outsides of the open capillary were covered with small curved plates. (i,j) The entire area of on the 3^rd podite was covered with HLP. The outsides of open capillaries were also covered with small curved plates.