One‐Sided Ejaculation of Echidna Sperm Bundles | Zendy

S. D. Johnston | Zendy; Breanna C. Smith | Zendy; Michael Pyne | Zendy; Deborah Stenzel | Zendy; W. V. Holt | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

One‐Sided Ejaculation of Echidna Sperm Bundles

Author(s) -

S. D. Johnston,

Breanna C. Smith,

Michael Pyne,

Deborah Stenzel,

W. V. Holt

Publication year - 2007

Publication title -

the american naturalist

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954

H-Index - 205

eISSN - 1537-5323

pISSN - 0003-0147

DOI - 10.1086/522847

Subject(s) - sperm , sperm competition , biology , ejaculation , penis , glans penis , anatomy , motility , sperm motility , semen , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , endocrinology

We report for the first time an unusual ejaculatory mechanism in the short-beaked echidna in which each side of the bilaterally symmetrical, rosettelike glans penis is used alternately, with the other being shut down. This is unparalleled in mammals but is reminiscent of the use of hemipenes in squamate reptiles, providing further reproductive evidence of a sauropsidian lineage in the Monotremata. Further, we describe the occurrence of motile sperm bundles in ejaculated echidna semen and provide scanning electron micrographs of their morphology. Sperm bundling appears to confer increased sperm motility, which may provide the potential for sperm competition between males.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research