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Certain reproductive organs in the Neritidae
Author(s) -
Andrews E. A.
Publication year - 1937
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/jmor.1050610307
Subject(s) - spermatophore , biology , oviduct , sperm , anatomy , anus , zoology , reproductive tract , botany , endocrinology
Descriptions and figures of the subordinate sex‐organs are given for thirty species taken at random throughout the entire family. It is found: that the higher genera have organs not present in the lower; that they have a storage sac for mineral particles to be added to the secreted capsules within which the eggs will develop; that the anus is more or less fused to the mouth of the oviduct to allow of easy passage of the above materials from anus to oviduct; that spermatophores grade from simple elongated tubes of the lower to stout double tubes with various forms, with spicules, or with spirals, in the higher forms; that the sacs for holding the spermatophores may be simple, when the spermatophores are cast out after discharge, but are more evolved when spermatophores are to be permanently retained and digested; that while lower forms have no sex organs upon the head, peculiar organs occur in the higher genera, in one or both sexes. These organs have value as aids in classification of genera within the family Neritidae. The very marked coordination among these organs may be better understood when further observation reveals how they are used in sperm transfer.