INVESTIGADORES
MATTONI Camilo Ivan
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Comparative morphological analysis of sperm packages from selected species of the family Bothriuridae (Scorpiones)
Autor/es:
VRECH, D., C. I. MATTONI & A. PERETTI
Lugar:
São Pedro, São Paulo, Brasil
Reunión:
Congreso; 17th International Congress of Arachnology (ISA); 2007
Institución organizadora:
International Society for Arachnology
Resumen:
Some arachnids possess spermatozoa grouped in different forms. Scorpions have spermatozoa connected by a secretion. Sperm packages are widely distributed in the order, but absent in the family Buthidae. The morphology of the sperm packages is quite variable, apparently carrying valuable phylogenetic information. The main objective of this work is to conduct a morphological analysis and comparison of the different sperm packages of selected species of Bothriuridae. Male specimens from at least 2 species of the following generea were studied: Brachistosternus, Timogenes, Urophonius, Cercophonius, Vachonia, Orobothriurus, and Bothriurus. In Bothriurus, we increased the taxon sampling for to observe differences inside a genus. Specimens of Iuridae and Euscorpiidae were used as out-group comparison. Microscope slide preparations with the content of the vesicle from the paraxial organ were made and observed in the light microscope. Pictures were taken with a digital camera and analyzed with a computer program. Detailed external structure was observed in some species through scanning electro-microscope. We distinguished 3 regions in the packages, Head, Body and Tail. Parameters taken to compare were: Total Length, Head Thick, Body-head Angle, Total Area, and Head Length. Measures were statistically analyzed and compared within and among genera. These analyses showed little change in general sperm package morphology within genus and species, but much more differences among genera. Brachistosternus showed round forehead with short body. Timogenes possesses folded packages, equivalent to that of some Bothriurus members in size. The same folded morphology was observed in Vachonia. Urophonius has hooked-head packages with a particular corrugation in the body part. Cercophonius showed packages with a round thick head, and short bodies with a well defined tail. Orobothriurus has very thin packages with short heads. Bothriurus’ packages were long with heads that showed very little differences in general shape between species. Some anomalies were observed, such as the presence of packages that seemed to carry less sperm that the regular ones. Sperm packages may result in an interesting tool for taxonomic research, as another source of characters to gather mayor taxa such as genus or families. The reason of the morphologic differences between sperm packages is still unknown, like its presence or absence in some families.