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Ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of Aristaeopsis edwardsiana and Aristeus varidens (Crustacea, Dendrobranchiata, Aristeidae)

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Abstract

The acrosome-less spermatozoon of Aristaeopsis edwardsiana (Crustacea, Aristeidae), which consists of a central non-membrane bound nuclear region surrounded by a thin peripheral cytoplasm, much resembles that of the previously studied aristeid Aristaeomorpha foliacea. The marked spermatozoal similarities between these two species appear to indicate a close phylogenetic proximity. A considerably different spermatozoal pattern is observed in aristeids from the genus Aristeus (A. varidens and A. antennatus), whose spermatozoa possess an anterior spherical acrosome, lacking a spike, and partially embedded in (instead of capping) the main sperm body. The two distinct sperm types found in the Aristeidae differ significantly from the spiked sperm typically found in most penaeoids (Penaeidae, Solenoceridae and Sicyoniidae), thus suggesting a phylogenetic separation of the Aristeidae from the remaining Penaeoidea.

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Acknowledgements

The invaluable technical assistance of Agustín Santos (Biology Department) and the staff of the Electron Microscopy Unit (University of Cádiz) are greatly appreciated. We thank two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and recommendations. This study was partially supported by the Spanish government (project REN2001-2875/MAR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    A. Medina & F. J. Abascal

  2. Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Unidad de Cádiz, Puerto Pesquero, Muelle de Levante, s/n, Apdo. 2609, 11006, Cádiz, Spain

    E. García-Isarch & I. Sobrino

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  1. A. Medina
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  2. E. García-Isarch
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  3. I. Sobrino
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  4. F. J. Abascal
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Correspondence to A. Medina.

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Medina, A., García-Isarch, E., Sobrino, I. et al. Ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of Aristaeopsis edwardsiana and Aristeus varidens (Crustacea, Dendrobranchiata, Aristeidae). Zoomorphology 125, 39–46 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-005-0013-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-005-0013-6

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