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Morphology and function of the copulatory system in freshwater crabs of the genus Potamon
Author(s) -
Brandis Dirk,
Storch Volker,
Türkay Michael
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4687(199902)239:2<157::aid-jmor4>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - gonopod , biology , freshwater crab , sloughing , morphology (biology) , zoology , anatomy , rosette (schizont appearance) , crustacean , decapoda , pathology , medicine , immunology
To understand the reproductive processes of freshwater crabs of the genus Potamon , we examined the first and second gonopod and the gonoducts of the female by histological methods. The gonopods are highly modified compared to those of other brachyuran crabs. In particular, the second gonopod is unusually long and has a special morphology, ending in a long sclerotized tube. Suggestions for the function of both gonopods and their different parts are presented. Tubulation of the first and second gonopod is observed. Rosette glands, which are abundant in the subterminal joint of the first gonopod, are connected to the sperm channel by cuticular pores. In females, the chitinous parts of the inner vulva may prove to have a more constant morphology than the external flexible structures. J. Morphol. 239:157–166, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.