The morphology of spermatophores of Parastacus defossus FAXON, 1898 and P. varicosus FAXON, 1898 and comparison within Parastacidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae).

NORO, C.K. SILVA-CASTIGLIONI DD LÓPEZ GRECO L L, BUCKUP, L. AND G. BOND-BUCKUP. 2007

NAUPLIUS

SOCIEDADE BRASILERA DE CARCINOLOGIA

Lugar: SAN PABLO; Año: 2007 vol. 15 p. 43 - 48

0104-6497

In decapod crustaceans, spermatophores are specialized structures used for the transfer of mature spermatozoa from male to female during the mating process. With the purpose to characterize the vas deferens ans spermatophore formation. Two Brazilian species of crayfishes were investigated: Parastacus defossus and P. varicosus. Members of the freshwater family Parastacidae have two patters of spermatophores: in the genus Cherax, found in Oceania, the spermatophore is composed of two layers, and each vas deferens is highly convoluted and has three macroscopically distinguishable parts; in Brazilian species P. defossus and P. varicosus, the vas deferens is short and straight and no macroscopically different parts can be identified. The spermatophore is formed by only one layer, which consists of a PAS positive fluid where spermatozoa are embedded. This PAS positive matrix correspond to the secondary layer found in the spermatophore of the Austaralian species of Cherax. The spermatophore structure in Parastacus is, therefore, simpler than in the studied Astacidae and than in the Cherax species