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Morphology and Ultrastructure of the Amazon River Dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis ) Spermatozoa
Author(s) -
Amaral Rodrigo S.,
Da Silva Vera M. F.,
Valdez Domingos Fabíola X.,
Martin Anthony R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the anatomical record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.23585
Subject(s) - ultrastructure , biology , cetacea , sperm , zoology , amazon rainforest , anatomy , morphology (biology) , ecology , botany
The spermatozoa from seven adult Amazon river dolphins ( Inia geoffrensis , CETACEA: INIIDAE) were analyzed by light and electron microscopy. The spermatozoa showed an elongated ellipsoid shaped head and a long tail with a well distinguishable midpiece. The head spermatozoa have a smooth surface like other odontocetes examined, with the exception of the Delphinidae family. The mean dimensions of the spermatozoa were within the range already reported for other cetaceans. The spermatozoa midpiece, as in other cetaceans, showed a random pattern of mitochondria, different from that described for other mammals. Further studies of sperm morphology of a wider spectrum of cetacean families could help to better understand the reproductive biology of these animals and the intergeneric and intrageneric relationships among them, as well as, among other mammals. Anat Rec, 300:1519–1523, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.