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Ultrastructural investigation of spermatogenesis in the nemerine wormProcephalothrix sp. (Palaeonemertini, Anopla)

Abstract

Spermatogenesis and sperm structure of the nemertine wormProcephalothrix sp. were studied by transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that a flagellum and proacrosomal vesicles are common in spermatogonia and spermatocytes as in spermatogenesis of a number of marine invertebrates with external fertilization. Originally, the animals were collected asProcephalothrix spiralis but they were found to have a type of spermatozoon different from that ofP. spiralis as described by Turbeville & Ruppert (1985). The re-identification of the material collected in the Japan Sea has shown that the features are characteristic, ofP. spiralis (Coe, 1930). This finding suggests thatP. spiralis shows variations in different parts of the world.

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Reunov, A.A., Klepal, W. Ultrastructural investigation of spermatogenesis in the nemerine wormProcephalothrix sp. (Palaeonemertini, Anopla). Helgoländer Meeresunters. 51, 125–135 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02908703

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