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Spermatophores in Dermopristis cairae Whittington et Kearn, 2011 (Monogenea, Microbothriidae)

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Abstract

Spermatophores are described in the microbothriid monogenean Dermopristis cairae from the giant shovel-nosed ray, Glaucostegus typus (Elasmobranchii, Rhinobatidae). Each spermatophore consists of a fusiform capsule containing sperm and a hollow stalk. The proximal ends of the stalks of fully formed spermatophores were open and located in a recess on the ventral surface close to, but not inside, the vagina and the male reproductive opening. Three adult parasites carried spermatophores attached externally to the ventral surface. One individual carried 3 spermatophores and 2 others a single spermatophore. In addition, in 2 adults, short lengths of what appeared to be stalk remnants were observed attached near the reproductive openings. With regard to spermatophore exchange, the evidence in support of the following 2 possibilities is discussed. (1) Adult specimens of D. cairae carrying fully formed spermatophores ventrally are recipients not donors, having received their spermatophores singly during mating events. (2) Spermatophore carrying adults are donors, their spermatophores being freshly made and on offer to a potential mate. The evidence points to the first of these alternatives as the most likely but this is not conclusive and requires observations on mating between living parasites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK

    Graham C. Kearn & Richard Evans-Gowing

  2. Monogenean Research Laboratory, Parasitology Section, The South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia

    Ian D. Whittington

  3. Marine Parasitology Laboratory, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DX 650 418), The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia

    Ian D. Whittington

  4. Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia

    Ian D. Whittington

Authors
  1. Graham C. Kearn
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  2. Ian D. Whittington
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  3. Richard Evans-Gowing
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Correspondence to Graham C. Kearn.

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Kearn, G.C., Whittington, I.D. & Evans-Gowing, R. Spermatophores in Dermopristis cairae Whittington et Kearn, 2011 (Monogenea, Microbothriidae). Acta Parasit. 56, 371–376 (2011). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-011-0078-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-011-0078-y

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