A new interpretation of the female genitalia in Macrocyclops albidus (Copepoda, Cyclopidae) |
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Authors: | D. Defaye,C. Cuoc, R.-M. Barthé lé my |
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Affiliation: | Laboratoire de Zoologie-Arthropodes, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, 61, rue de Buffon, Paris, F-75005 France;;Laboratoire de Biologie-Animale (Plancton), Universitéde Provence, Case 18–3, Place Victor Hugo, Marseille cedex 03, F-13331 France |
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Abstract: | The female genital structures of Macrocyclops albidus (Cyclopidae, Eucyclopinae) were studied using light and electron microscopy. The results confirm that the exterior genital area shows only a copulatory pore, located anteromedially on the ventral face of the genital double-somite, and paired gonopores (not directly visible), situated laterally under the P6 plates. An internal seminal receptacle, composed of several parts, is connected to the gonopores by ventro-lateral cuticular extensions or seminal ducts. The lateral site of communication shows a complex set of connections between the seminal receptacle and the oviducts (via the egg-laying ducts). The structure until now designated as ‘transverse ducts’, visible by transparency on the ventral face, is in fact constituted of internal cuticular thickenings resulting of the fusion of the 6th thoracic somite and the 1st abdominal somite forming the genital double-somite and appearing externally as a part of the suture line; the term ‘suture cord’ is proposed to designate it. The functioning of the system is explained. |
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Keywords: | Copepoda Cyclopoida reproduction genitalia female ultrastructure |
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