Endemic and enigmatic: the reproductive biology of Aegla (Crustacea: Anomura: Aeglidae) with observations on sperm structure
Memoirs of Museum Victoria Vol 60 (1) p. 63–70 (2003)
Abstract
The endemic South American family of freshwater anomurans, Aeglidae, consists of three genera: the fossils Haumuriaegla Feldmann and Protaegla Feldmann et al., and the extant Aegla Leach. In Aegla there are >60 described species from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, between 20°S and 50°S. Very little is known about the reproductive biology of Aegla. This paper summarises this information based on study of the extensive preserved collections in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, and on data from the literature. The data presented includes female reproductive cycles, mating behavior, external reproductive morphology of males and females, and internal reproductive morphology of males. Areas for future research in the reproductive biology of aeglids are indicated. The ultrastructure of spermatophore–like lobes and spermatozoa are described and illustrated for males of Aegla longirostri Bond–Buckup and Buckup and Aegla rostrata Jara. No distinctly structured spermatophores are present, and spherical sperm cells appear polymorphic. Both these characteristics are unusual, although not unique, for an anomuran crab.
Citation
Tudge, C.C., 2003. Endemic and enigmatic: the reproductive biology of Aegla (Crustacea: Anomura: Aeglidae) with observations on sperm structure. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 60: 63-70. http://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2003.60.9
PUBLICATION DATE: 31 JANUARY 2003