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Fine structure of the male reproductive system in two species ofHaplognathia sterrer (Gnathostomulida, Filospermoidea)

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Summary

The structure of the male reproductive systems of two species ofHaplognathia cf.lyra andH. cf.rosacea was described. The structure of the testes and the anterior portions of the sperm ducts in both species was found to be similar. However, considerable species differences were found between the structures of the glands and muscles associated with the reproductive systems. These were more elaborate inH. cf.lyra than inH. cf.rosacea. The former species possessed an H-shaped sperm duct gland, three distinct groups of penis muscles and a penis with two cell types and with a lumen. The latter species had paired sperm duct glands, no specialized penis muscles and a penis with only one cell type and without a detectable lumen. No open gonopore was observed in either species. The sperm presumably exit through a ventral tissue connection observed connecting the penis and the ventral epidermis. These findings were discussed in the light of Mainitz's (1977) theory concerning the primitive penis type within the Gnathostomulida.

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Abbreviations

ap:

anterior-posterior penis muscles

bm:

basement membrane

csd:

common sperm duct

dl:

dorsal lumen of the penis

dp:

dorsal gland cells of the penis

dv:

dorsoventral muscles anterior to the penis

dw:

sperm duct wall cell

e:

epidermis

ex:

exit cell

g:

intestine

gl:

gut lumen

n:

nerve

p:

penis

sd:

sperm duct

sdg:

sperm duct gland

tw:

testes wall cell

vl:

ventral lumen of the penis

vp:

ventral gland cells of the penis

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27514, Chapel Hill, N.C., USA

    Elizabeth B. Knauss & Reinhard M. Rieger

Authors
  1. Elizabeth B. Knauss
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  2. Reinhard M. Rieger
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This project was supported by NSF grant #GB 42211 (R.M. Rieger P.I.). The line drawings have been executed after our design by Ms. Linda McVay

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Knauss, E.B., Rieger, R.M. Fine structure of the male reproductive system in two species ofHaplognathia sterrer (Gnathostomulida, Filospermoidea). Zoomorphologie 94, 33–48 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00994055

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00994055

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