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Trans-Molt Retention of Sperm in the Female Stone Crab, Menippe Mercenaria (Say) 1)

Trans-Molt Retention of Sperm in the Female Stone Crab, Menippe Mercenaria (Say) 1) TRANS-MOLT RETENTION OF SPERM IN THE FEMALE STONE CRAB, MENIPPE MERCENARIA (SAY) 1) BY T. S. CHEUNG Institute of Marine Science, University of Miami, Florida 33149, U.S.A. The two spermathecae in a brachyuran are each an outgrowth of one of the paired oviducts. The oviducal walls are formed by invagination of the integument, which consists of a thick chitinous layer underlying a thin epicuticular layer. In Carcinu.r maenas (L.), the European shore crab, the oviducal region includes the spermatheca as well, but the invaginating integument covers only a big lower portion of the spermathecal wall (Spalding, 1942). There is no doubt that this lower part of the oviducal wall is tegumental in origin. At each molting the wall sheds with the exuvium, and a new wall develops underneath in exactly the same manner as a new integument is formed. In the majority of recorded cases, copulation in decapods takes place only when the female is newly molted. At such times the new soft tegumental wall will presumably allow easy passage of the spermatophore from the male. As the wall of the spermatophore is dissolved the spermatozoa are stored in the spermatheca until the eggs become mature, ready for fertilization http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Crustaceana Brill

Trans-Molt Retention of Sperm in the Female Stone Crab, Menippe Mercenaria (Say) 1)

Cheung, T.S.
Crustaceana , Volume 15 (2): 4 – Jan 1, 1968
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References (4)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0011-216X
eISSN
1568-5403
DOI
10.1163/156854068x00953
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

TRANS-MOLT RETENTION OF SPERM IN THE FEMALE STONE CRAB, MENIPPE MERCENARIA (SAY) 1) BY T. S. CHEUNG Institute of Marine Science, University of Miami, Florida 33149, U.S.A. The two spermathecae in a brachyuran are each an outgrowth of one of the paired oviducts. The oviducal walls are formed by invagination of the integument, which consists of a thick chitinous layer underlying a thin epicuticular layer. In Carcinu.r maenas (L.), the European shore crab, the oviducal region includes the spermatheca as well, but the invaginating integument covers only a big lower portion of the spermathecal wall (Spalding, 1942). There is no doubt that this lower part of the oviducal wall is tegumental in origin. At each molting the wall sheds with the exuvium, and a new wall develops underneath in exactly the same manner as a new integument is formed. In the majority of recorded cases, copulation in decapods takes place only when the female is newly molted. At such times the new soft tegumental wall will presumably allow easy passage of the spermatophore from the male. As the wall of the spermatophore is dissolved the spermatozoa are stored in the spermatheca until the eggs become mature, ready for fertilization

Journal

Crustaceana – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1968

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