28
Views
1
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
SHORT COMMUNICATION

Morphology of the spermatozoon of the limpet Fissurella crassa Lamarck, 1822 (Mollusca: Vetigastropoda)

&
Pages 19-22 | Received 06 Dec 2004, Accepted 26 Apr 2005, Published online: 01 Dec 2010
 

Summary

Fissurella crassa is a keyhole limpet, which inhabits the middle rocky intertidal zone of the southwest coast of South America. The present study details the ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of this species. These cells are of the aquasperm type, typical of species that release free gametes into seawater. The conical head of the spermatozoon contains a truncated conical, elongated nucleus with a subconical acrosome with a rounded anterior tip, and a deep subacrosomic space. The midpiece of the spermatozoon is typically formed of six mitochondria arranged in a ring around the proximal and distal centrioles, from which emerges the 9 + 2 axoneme of the flagellum. The spermatic morphology is characteristic by the shape and size of the nucleus and acrosome, showing two differentiated zones and a deep subacrosomic space, which are valid taxonomic criteria to distinguish F. crassafrom other fissurellid species.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.