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1 December 2007 Taxonomic occurrences of gastropod spermatozeugmata and non-stylommatophoran spermatophores updated
Robert Robertson
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Abstract

Spermatozeugmata, not to be confused with spermatophores, that also transfer sperm, are compound structures (parasperms with attached eusperms) known only in certain “mesogastropods”: Loxonematoidea? (Abyssochrysidae), Littorinoidea (Littorinidae), Triphoroidea (Triphoridae and Cerithiopsidae), Tonnoidea (Ranellidae), Janthinoidea (Epitoniidae and Janthinidae), and doubtfully Cypraeoidea (Cypraeidae). This pattern of taxonomic occurrence does not match that of any other character known, their morphology is diverse, and it is concluded that the spermatozeugmata in these taxa are not all homologous and that, like spermatophores, they have evolved repeatedly. Littorinid spermatozeugmata have frequently been studied after fixation and shrinkage of the parasperms (“nurse cells”), during which the eusperms drop off. Spermatozeugmata are not a synapomorphy linking the Triphoroidea and Janthinoidea. Records of spermatophores (except in the “pulmonate” suborder Stylommatophora) since Robertson (1989) are updated.

Robert Robertson "Taxonomic occurrences of gastropod spermatozeugmata and non-stylommatophoran spermatophores updated," American Malacological Bulletin 23(1), 11-16, (1 December 2007). https://doi.org/10.4003/0740-2783-23.1.11
Accepted: 14 May 2007; Published: 1 December 2007
KEYWORDS
euspermatozoa
inferred homoplasy
nurse cells
paraspermatozoa
sperm transfer
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