Scorpion Hemocytes: a Comparative Study

Haemocytes are the colourless blood cells present in the haemolymph of different groups of animals. Extensive studies are carried out on the haemocytes of arthropods particularly insects. However , scorpions, the living fossil and most fascinating arthropod group, remained neglected from the point of view of haemocyte study. To fulfill the lacuna of scorpion haemocytes record , present investigation was undertaken. Five different species of scorpions from the state of Maharashtra were used . Light and phase contrast microscopy and TEM techniques were used. Light and phase contrast miscroscopic studies revealed seven types of haemocys: Prohemocytes (PRs), Plasmocytes (PLs), Coagulocytes (COs), Oenocytes (OEs), Spherulocytes (SP), Granulocytes (GRs) and Adipohemocytes (ADs) . But TEM study on haemocytes in Heterometrus xanthopus indicated only six types of haemocytes where COs were absent. This will be useful to students, faculty and researchers.