The ultrastructure of the mature spermatozoon of the bivalve Gafrarium tumidum (Bivalvia, Heterodonta, Veneridae, Circinae).
Using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, we have described the mature spermatozoon of the bivalve Gafrarium tumidum (Heterodonta, Veneridae, Circinae) for the first time. The spermatozoon of G. tumidum is the ect-aquasperm type. The head contains a slightly curved nucleus. At its apex is a short cone-shaped acrosome. The structure of the acrosome is typical of heterodont bivalves and two major components of the acrosome vesicle material can be distinguished. The midpiece is an annular band of five mitochondria which surround the centriole complex. Sperm ultrastructure of G. tumidum provides additional information for the existing Veneridae phylogeny.
Cheng
C H
CH
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
Yang
W T
WT
Gwo
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*