Male Copulatory Apparatus Research Articles

A new genus and species of terrestrial planarian (Platyhelminthes; Tricladida; Terricola) from Scotland, and an emendation of the genus Artioposthia

Arthurdendyus albidus gen. nov., sp. nov. is described. Live specimens are up to 13 cm long, and uniformly creamy white. The ovaries are lateral to the male copulatory apparatus and the false seminal vesicles anastomose. There are two adenodactyls. The pharynx is of the ‘bell-shaped’ type. The species is assumed to be native to New Zealand, but has yet to be found there. Artioposthia triangulata and other species native to New Zealand are transferred to the new genus.

A New Species of Paraphotina Giglo-Tos 1915 from Peru (Insecta: Mantodea)

The author describes a new species of Paraphotina Giglio-Tos 1915 P. occicentalis sp. n.) from Peru. Characterized by its large size, it appears related to P. reticulata (Saussure 1870), from which it differs in the shape of its male copulatory apparatus. [Key-words: Insecta, Mantodea, taxonomy, Paraphotina occicentalis sp. n., Peruvian fauna].

Ten Species of Pisione (Annelida : Polychaeta : Pisionidae) from Japan and Evolutionary Trends in the Genus Based on Comparison of Male Copulatory Apparatus

Ten Species of Pisione (Annelida : Polychaeta : Pisionidae) from Japan and Evolutionary Trends in the Genus Based on Comparison of Male Copulatory Apparatus

Structure and development of sperm bundles in the dragonfly Aeshna juncea L. (Odonata).

A re-examination of the origin and development of sperm bundles in aeshnid dragonflies (Odonata, Anisoptera) was carried out using light and electron microscopy. During their elongation, intracyst spermatids of the testis of the dragonfly Aeshna juncea L. form a slender cytoplasmic protrusion, the acrosomal conicoid, beyond the nucleus and acrosome rodlet. Gathering and parallel alignment of the transforming spermatids into a tight bundle take place inside the cyst. The original, rigid spermatid foreparts eventually associate, initially by becoming adhesive and swelling progressively to intertwine, and thus come to constitute a cap that binds together all sperm heads within a cyst in a spermatodesma. The development of the spermatodesma seems to occur disjunct from somatic cyst cells. Bundled in this form, the sperms are transferred to the intratestis canal and moved down the spermiduct to the seminal vesicle. They are then forwarded to the male copulatory apparatus, from which they are transmitted to the female. Individual, fully formed sperms are seen to be liberated from the bundle when in the female receptaculum seminis. The remnant of the cytoplasmic acrosomal conicoid, which is considered an envelope of the acrosome rodlet, is then dissolved. The spermatodesmata are large sperm aggregates that constitute efficient vehicles for transmission of amounts of filamentous sperm to the female. J. Morphol. 235:239-247, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Copulation in the hermaphroditic snailLymnaea stagnalis:a review

Summary Male copulatory behavior of the hermaphroditic snail Lymnaea stagnalis is a complex one: the appetitive behavior consists of a number of elements which do not always appear in the same sequence and have variable durations. Backfills of the penis nerve revealed the neurons that send projections to the male copulatory apparatus. Immunocytochemical experiments have demonstrated that these neurons contain at least ten different messenger molecules. Based on in situ hybridization and chemical purification data, it is suspected that this number will probably be doubled. How the different neurons and the molecules they contain might be involved in generation of the different elements of male copulatory behavior is discussed.

The nervous system of Tricladida. I. Neuroanatomy of Procerodes littoralis (Maricola, Procerodidae): an immunocytochemical study.

The organization of the nervous system of Procerodes littoralis (Tricladida, Maricola, Procerodidae) was studied by immunocytochemistry, using antibodies to authentic flatworm neuropeptide F (NPF) (Moniezia expansa). Compared to earlier investigations of the neuroanatomy of tricladid flatworms, the pattern of NPF immunoreactivity in Procerodes littoralis reveals differences in the following respects: 1. Shape and structure of the brain. 2. Number and composition of longitudinal nerve cords. 3. Shape of branches of, and transverse connections between, main ventral nerve cords. 4. Composition of the pharyngeal nervous system. The rich innervation by NPF immunoreactive (IR) fibres and cells of the subepithelial muscle layer, the pharynx musculature and the musculature of the male copulatory apparatus indicates a neurotransmitter or neuromodulatory influence on muscular activity.

Urogyrus cichlidarum gen.nov., sp.nov., Urogyridae fam.nov., monogène parasite de la vessie urinaire de poissons cichlidés au Cameroun

Urogyrus cichlidarum gen.nov., sp.nov. (Dactylogyridea, Urogyridae fam.nov.) is proposed for a monogenean found in the urinary bladder of Chromidotilapia batesi Boulenger, 1901, Nanochromis caudifasciatus Boulenger, 1913, Pungu maclareni Trewavas, Green and Corbet, 1972, Stomatepia pindu Trewavas, Green and Corbet, 1972, and Tilapia sp., freshwater Cichlidae in Cameroon. The new genus is distinguished from other urinary bladder monogeneans and from all Dactylogyridea by the haptor with 2 unequal ventral hooks, a single ventral transverse bar, and 14 ventral marginal hooklets, and by a vas deferens loop around left intestinal branch as well as by a male copulatory apparatus with two accessory pieces in a claw shape. This new genus is proposed as the type of a new family, Urogyridae, and its systematic position is discussed.

Haliotrema species (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from Indo-Pacific boxfishes (Tetraodontiformes: Ostraciidae)

Gill material of 12 species of Indo-Pacific boxfishes was examined for species of Haliotrema. Four parasite species were recorded: H. trochaderoi n.sp., H. crymanum n.sp., H. lactoriae, and H. triacanthi. Haliotrema trochaderoi was taken from Ostracion meleagris, O. cyanurus, and O. cubicus from the West Pacific Ocean. Haliotrema crymanum was taken from O. cubicus from the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. The morphology of these two species was compared with that of 10 other species of Haliotrema with similar male copulatory apparatus. Duncan's multiple range test indicated the two new species to be distinct from one another in all but 5 of 35 measurements (p = 0.005); multivariate analysis of variance and canonical discriminant analysis indicated them to be distinct from all Atlantic species of Haliotrema from boxfishes (p = 0.001). Haliotrema lactoriae was recorded from Lactoria cornuta, L. fornasini, and L. reipublicae, in addition to its type host, L. diaphana. It is specific to species of Lactoria but occurs on these throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Haliotrema triacanthi, previously known only from species of Triacanthus (Tetraodontiformes: Triacanthidae), was also found on Ostracion rhinorhynchus. It occurs on its hosts in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean.

On Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1822) (Mollusca; Pilidae: Ampullariidae)

This paper deals with the morphology of Pomacea caniculata (Lamarck, 1822) collected at Corrientes, Argentina. Comparison is made with Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) and Pomacea sordida (Swainson, 1823). The shell is globose, heavy, with greenish or horn-colored periostracum and dark spiral bands; apex subelevated, 5-6 whorls increasing rather rapidly and separated by very deep suture. Aperture large, rounded to subelongated; lip sometimes reddish; umbilicus large and deep; operculum corneous, entirely closing the aperture. Ratios: shell width/shell length = 0.78-0.96 (mean 0.86); aperture length/shell length = 0.68-0.77 (mean 0.72). Radula similar to other congeneric species. Testis and spermiduct as in P. lineata and P. sordida; prostate cylindric and short, cream in color as the testis. Penial sheath straight bearing a central outer gland deeply embedded in the tissue of its basal portion and a large wrinkled gland occupying 2/3 of the distal tip of its inner surface; the rigth margin of the sheath overlaps the left one until 2/3 of its proximal end. Female reproductive apparatus similar to that P. lineata; vestigial male copulatory apparatus (penis and its sheath) present in all females examined.

Structure of the female genital glands of the oviduct in the opisthobranch mollusc, Runcina

Runcina is a small hermaphroditic opisthobranch which possesses a monaulic reproductive system. In previous studies the male copulatory apparatus, the structure of the spermatophore and also the process of oogenesis have been described. The present paper gives an account of the ultrastructure of the female genital glands of the oviduct. In Runcina the oviduct comprises three primary regions, the albumen gland, the egg capsule gland and the mucous gland. Eggs enter the fertilization chamber and as they pass the opening of the albumen gland they become surrounded by albumen or perivitelline fluid. The eggs appear to become encapsulated as they traverse the egg-capsule gland and are eventually stuck together by mucus to form an egg mass. The epithelial lining of the three glands consists of alternating ciliated and secretory cells. The characteristics in secretory products of the glandular cells are described, and are discussed with reference to the way they contribute to egg vestment.

Pellucidhaptor eriensis n.sp. and Pellucidhaptor thelostea n.sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from catostomids (Cypriniformes) found in Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada

A collection of dactylogyrid Monogenea from catostomid fishes taken in Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada, included Pellucidhaptor eriensis n. sp. from Carpiodes cyprinus and Moxostoma macrolepidotum; P. thelostea n.sp. from Moxostoma macrolepidotum and M. anisurum; P. angularis Kritsky and Hathaway, 1969 from Carpiodes cyprinus; P. micracanthus Kritsky, Leiby, and Shelton, 1972 from Carpiodes cyprinus; P. moxostomi Mergo and White, 1982 from Moxostoma anisurum (new Canadian record) and P. nasalis Dechtiar, 1969 from Catostomus commersoni. Pellucidhaptor eriensis is differentiated from other Pellucidhaptor species by the shape of the superficial root of the dorsal hamuli, the shape of the dorsal bar, and the configuration of the male copulatory apparatus. Pellucidhaptor thelostea is readily distinguished from other members of the genus by the sclerotized "wishbone"-shaped support of the male copulatory organ. Supplementary data are provided for the previously described species and an updated list of parasite–host records is included.

Two new species of Chimaericola Brinkmann (Monogenea: Chimaericolidae) from Hydrolagus spp. (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae) in the Pacific

Chimaericola ogilbyi n. sp. and C. colliei n. sp. are proposed for chimaericolids found on the gills of the ghost shark, Hydrolagus ogilbyi taken off the coast of southeastern Australia, and the ratfish, H. colliei, taken off the coast of Vancouver Island, respectively. Supplementary observations on C. leptogaster, the type-species of the genus Chimaericola, are included. The two new species are differentiated on the size and shape of the median sucker sclerite, hamuli, spines of the male copulatory apparatus and eggs. Amended diagnoses for the family Chimaericolidae and genus Chimaericola are provided.

On Pomacea sordida (Swainson, 1823) (Prosobranchia, Ampullariidae)

A description of Pomacea sordida (Swainson, 1823) collected in Caxias and Nova Iguaçu, state of Rio de Janeiro, is presented. The shell is globose, heavy, whith greenish or horn-colored periostracum and dark spinal bands; apex subelevated, 4-5 moderately shoudered whorls, increasing rather rapidly and separated by deep suture. Aperture large, moderately round, yellowish or violaceous; lip thick and sometimes dark brown; umbilicus large and deep; operculum corneous and heavy, entirely closing the aperture. Ratios: shell width/shell length = 0.81-0.91 (mean 0.86); aperture length/shell length = 0.66-0.75 (mean 0.70). Testis, spermiduct and penis pouch as in Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827). Seminal vesicle whitish and bean-shaped. Prostate cylindric and narrow, cream in coloar as the testis. Penis whiplike whith a closed circular spermiduct. Penial sheath elongated and tapered, with its distal tip turned to the right; outer basal gland situated on the left; inner median gland rounded; apical gland elongated and wrinkled. Ovary composed of branched whitish tubules lying superficially on the digestive gland; oviduct and seminal receptacle as in P. lineata; albumen gland yellowish - orange. Vestigial male copulatory apparatus (penis and its sheath) present in all females examined.

Morphology of Calydiscoides-Nemipteris, Sp-Nov (Monogenea), With a Redescription and Revision of the Genus

Calydiscoides nemipteris, sp. nov., was recovered from the gills of Scolopsis temporalis (Nemipteridae), collected near Heron I., Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Close examination of the squamodiscs on the opisthaptors of C. nemipteris, C, indianus, and the type-species, C, australis, revealed the structure of the squadmodiscs to be quite different from that in the genus description. Lamellae form a skeletal framework for the sucker-like squamodisc. The seven posterior band-shaped lamellae overlap each other, with their open ends facing outward forming a cavity within the disc with an opening to the exterior. The anterior three lamellae are in the form of complete concentrically arranged circular bands that telescope anteriorly at an angle into the body. In the original description, there was no mention of the sucker-like morphology, and all the lamellae were described as being complete concentric rings that telescoped into each other. Therefore, the genus is redescribed to reflect the morphology of the worms more accurately. In addition, Lamellodiscus japonicus has squamodiscs more similar to those of Calydiscoides than to Lamellodiscus; hence, it has been combined with Calydiscoides. The shape of the male copulatory apparatus, medial transverse bar and other characters differentiate C. nemipteris from its congeners.

Observations on the morphology of Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) (Mollusca, Ampullariidae)

This paper deals with the morpholgy of Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) collected at its type locality. The shell is globose, moderately heavy, horn-colored with brown spiral bands; apex subelevated; 4 - 5 rounded whorls increasing in diameter rather rapidly, separated by deep suture. Aperture large and ovoid; outer lip sharp; umbilicus narrow and deep; operculum concentric, corneous. Ratios: shell width/shell length = 0.74 - 0.83 (mean 0.78); spire length/shell length = 0.10 - 0.18 (mean 0.13); aperture length/shell length = 0.70 - 0.77 (mean 0.73). The animal is longisiphonate. Renal organ brownish with marked invagination at its right edge. Ureter elongated with its long axis transverse to the main axis of the kidney. The radula is taenioglossate (2.1.1.1.2) and has on average 35 transverse rows of teeth. The form and arrangement of the radula teeth are nearly the same as in other Ampullariidae. The testis is cream-colored and lies in the first three whorls of the spire. Spermiduct uniformly narrow, running to the base of the spire. Seminal vesicle whitish, slightly pressed dorsoventrally. Prostate cylindric and thick, similar in color to the testis. Penis whiplike, with a closed circular spermiduct. Penis pouch ovoid completely envelping the penis. Penis sheath elongated, broad prosimally, tapering distally. Its inner surface shows a longitudinal channel along its proximal half and two glands, one on the middle and the other apical. Ovary composed of branched whitish tubules situated on the surface of the digestive gland. Oviduct slender running along the columellar axis toward the base of the spire. Seminal receptalble tubiform, thick-walled and rounded proximally. Albumen gland large, pink, enclosing the receptacle and the spiral capsule gland. Vestigial male copulatory apparatus (penis and its sheath) present in all females examined.

A Structural Analysis of the Spermatophore of Runcina Ferruginea Kress (Opisthobranchia: Cephalaspidea)

A spermatophore is defined as a capsule of albuminous matter containing a number of sperm. Among opisthobranchs the families Retusidae, Philinoglossidae, Bullidae, Atydae and Runcinidae are all said to possess a copulatory apparatus which stores sperm and also forms spermatophores (Ghiselin, 1966). Relatively little information exists concerning the structure of the copulatory apparatus or the spermatophore in these groups and practically nothing is known about the copulatory behaviour of the animals and the fate of the spermatophore (Perrier & Fischer, 1914; Ghiselin, 1963, 1966; Thompson, 1976;Beeman, 1977). This paper will focus on the structure of the spermatophore of the cephalaspid Runcina (Kress, 1977). The formation of sperm occurs in the hermaphroditic glands, in a more central position than that of the eggs. These autosperm leave via the common genital aperture which is located laterally to the gills. They travel by means of strong ciliary action, through a seminal groove to the male copulatory apparatus on the right of the mouth. The sperm then moves through the penis and the prostate into a storage sac, the seminal vesicle. For copulation, these sperm are packed into a spermatophore which should presumably be introduced into the common genital aperture but which may be found attached to the mantle or foot, even to animals not yet sexually mature. We have taken this opportunity to study the spermatophore which otherwise might not be easily detected.

Male Copulatory Organs of Macaronesian Species of Aphanarthrum Wollaston. With Designations of Lectotypes and Descriptions of New Taxa (Col. Scolytidae)

AbstractDrawings are reproduced of the male copulatory apparatus in a number of Macaronesian Aphanarthrum. Lectotypes are designated for the Wollaston species of the genus. The following new taxa are described: A. wollastoni n.sp., A. glabrum nudum n.ssp., A. subglabrum n.sp., A. canescens polyspiniger n.ssp., and A. canariense longipes n.ssp.

Megamorion brevicaudagen. nov., spec. nov., Ein Vertreter Der Turbellarienordnung Macrostomida aus dem tiefenschlamm eines Norwegischen fjords

Abstract A new marine species of the Turbellaria-Macrostomida, coming from the Norwegian coast (Raunefjorden, off Sletta, mud from 120 m depth) is described. The new genus Megamorion created for this form is characterized by longitudinal nerves situated outside the epidermal muscle sheath, only one genital pore, a testis situated dorsally to the pharynx, a most complex male copulatory apparatus, and a bursa with a cuticular apparatus. Within the family Macrostomidae, the new form is closely related to the genera Dolichomacrostomum and Paromalostomum.

The functional anatomy of the copulatory apparatus of male Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae).

The male copulatory apparatus of Culex pipiens L. is basically similar to that of Aedes aegypti (L.). The sclerites of both appear to be sheets of cuticle grouped in 3 functional units. The genital pore is situated deep within the aedeagus, and the latter must be rotated, to expose the pore. The ventral arm of the aedeagus, which is much larger in C. p. quinquefasciatus Say than in C. p. pipiens , projects during eversion in such a manner as to suggest that it may interfere with heterologous matings. It is suggested that contact of the modified claspers of the male with the postgenital plate of the female may serve as a stimulus to eversion of the aedeagus in C. pipiens .

Reproductive system of the bruchid beetles bruchus quadrimaculatus Fabr., bruchus (callosobruchus) chinensis L., (bruchidae—Coleoptera)

AbstractThe reproductive organs of Bruchus quadrimaculatus Fabr., and B. (Callosobruchus) chinensis L., including histology are described in detail. The role of the different parts of the male and female copulatory apparatus is discussed and the physical composition and function of the secretions of the accessory glands are indicated. The specific differences in the structure of the genitalia of the two species are shown.