The role of the atrial diverticulum in the copulatory apparatus of the terrestrial flatworm Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp (Tricladida: Terricola) |
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Authors: | Winsor Leigh |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia |
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Abstract: | Diverticula are present in the copulatory organs of many species of the Terricola. In some species these structures are copulatory
bursae or resorptive vesicles. The function of diverticula present in the copulatory organs in species of Dolichoplana and
Platydemus (Rhynchodemidae), in Australoplana (Geoplanidae) and in some other caenoplaninid genera has been an enigma. From
histochemical and other investigations of the ventro-posterior copulatory diverticulum in Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp,
it is evident that this structure is neither a copulatory bursa, resorptive vesicle nor a uterus. It is an adhesive gland
producing a viscid, collagen-like fibrous glycoprotein derived from two secretory elements present in the gland. The secretion
is expelled during cocoon laying to adhere the cocoon onto the substratum. The diverticulum appears late in the development
of the copulatory organs, and is present when the gonopore is patent; this has implications for the taxonomy of platydemid
flatworms.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | Terricola planarian viscid gland reproduction collagen taxonomy |
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