Functional anatomy of the female reproductive systems of two spider crabs (Decapoda, Majoidea)

GONZÁLEZ PISANI X.; BARÓN P.; LÓPEZ GRECO L. S

INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2012 p. 61 - 74

1077-8306

To better understand the mating systems of majoid crabs, we studied the functionalanatomy of the female reproductive systems of the spider crabs Leurocyclus tuberculosusand Libinia spinosa, comparing them with those of other Majoidea. Adult females weremeasured and dissected, and their reproductive systems described macroscopically and histologically.In females of both species, the seminal receptacles are paired globular structuresof ecto-mesodermal origin. The mesoderm-derived region is lined by a stratified epithelium.The anchoring, proliferative, and secretory strata are clearly recognizable. The ectodermderivedregion is lined by a simple cylindrical epithelium underlying a cuticle that increasesin thickness toward the vagina. The transition between the ectoderm and mesoderm-derivedregions is abrupt, with differences between the studied species: Li. spinosa has a ?velum,?whereas Le. tuberculosus presents prominent ?folds.? In both species, the position in whichthe oviduct is connected to the seminal receptacles is intermediate between the dorsal andventral types previously described in other eubrachyurans. The seminal receptacles of thestudied species show four different conditions, which can be distinguished macroscopicallybased on their shape and amount of sperm stored. We compare our data with those fromother Majoidea in an attempt to determine whether the morphology of the seminal receptaclesis related to different mating strategies or behaviors.