Euspermatozoa and paraspermatozoa of the relict cerithiacean gastropod,Campanile symbolicum (prosobranchia, mesogastropoda)

Abstract

Euspermatozoa and paraspermatozoa ofCampanile symbolicum Iredale, 1917 — a large, relict cerithiacean from Western Australia — have been examined using transmission electron microscopy and phase-contrast light microscopy. The euspermatozoa resemble those of many other mesogastropods with the important exception that the midpiece region exhibits unusual and possibly unique features. These include possession of seven or eight straight, periaxonemal elements (each containing scattered cristae) and a closely associated sheath composed of electrondense segments which are semicylindrical in shape and longitudinally aligned. This sheath — here termed the ‘accessory midpiece sheath’-surrounds only one half of the periaxonemal midpiece elements and lies outside the mitochondrial membrane (but nevertheless within the plasma membrane). Two types of paraspermatozoa occur inCampanile: (1) those with a nuclear core within the mosaic sheath of the head (nucleate paraspermatozoa) and (2) those lacking a nuclear core (dense blocks of mosaic sheath surrounding one to three axonemes — anucleate paraspermatozoa). An acrosome-like structure forms the apex of the head in both types of paraspermatozoa, while beyond the head region, electron-dense glycogen deposits are associated with each of the multiple tails. While the form ofCampanile paraspermatozoa suggests links with families such as the Cerithiidae, Potamididae and Turritellidae, the highly unusual morphology of the euspermatozoan midpiece indicates that the Campanilidae should occupy an isolated position within the superfamily Cerithiacea.