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Male reproductive system of the red brocade hermit crab Dardanus insignis (Diogenidae) and its relationship to other family members

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Abstract

The reproductive system of hermit crabs shows species-specific morphology, which can be used in phylogenetic analysis. Here, we describe the male reproductive system of the hermit crab Dardanus insignis, including morphological and biometric analyses of the spermatophore, the gonopore, and sperm ultrastructure. The morphological analyses were based on 15 selected specimens and carried out by means of light and electron microscopy. Our results indicate a reproductive system composed of lobular testes attached to a simple straight vas deferens connected to the exterior via ventral gonopores. The gonopores are ovoid, surrounded by dense serrulate setae, and covered by a membranous operculum. The spermatophores exhibit a tripartite structure, with an elongate ovoid ampulla, a long narrow stalk, and a proximal foot. The spermatozoal ultrastructure shows three main regions: an ovoid-oblong acrosomal vesicle, a nucleus, and cytoplasm with three armlike extensions. Some of these characteristics can also be found in other species of Diogenidae within the genus Dardanus and in members of Coenobitidae, a closely related family. The available information on spermatophore and spermatozoal structure may indicate a closer similarity between the genus Dardanus and the Coenobitidae, compared with other members of Diogenidae.

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by a Scientific Initiation Fellowship from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (Proc. 2010/11988-9) to RCB. FLM is grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (Proc. 301359/2007-5; PQ 302748/2010-5) and FAPESP (Temático Biota 2010/50188-8; Coleções Científicas 2009/54931-0) for research fellowships and support for this project. FJZ also thanks CNPq for Research Scholarship (PQ 308215/2010-9). A Ph.D fellowship was awarded to RCB by FAPESP (Proc. 2012/06299-5). Special thanks are due to all members of the Laboratory of Bioecology and Crustacean Systematics of FFCLRP/USP for their help with field and laboratory work. Samples were prepared for electron microscopy, analysis, and image capture by Maria Dolores Seabra Ferreira, and José Maulin at the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), and Cláudia A. Rodrigues at the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Jaboticabal. Álvaro da Silva Costa and Djalma Rosa helped with field sampling, and the Instituto Oceanográfico of USP (IO, Ubatuba, SP, Brazil) provided space and infrastructure. We thank Janet W Reid (JWR Associates) for revising the English text and to anonymous reviewer for suggestions and contributions toward improving this article. All experiments conducted in the present study complied with the currently applicable state and federal laws of Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Bioecology and Crustacean Systematics (LBSC), Postgraduate Program in Comparative Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters at Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Raquel C. Buranelli & Fernando L. Mantelatto

  2. Invertebrate Morphology Laboratory (IML), Department of Applied Biology and Aquaculture Center (CAUNESP), FCAV, UNESP-Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane km 05, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil

    Fernando J. Zara

  3. Instituto de Estudos Avançados do Mar (IEAMar) - UNESP, São Vicente, SP, Brazil

    Fernando L. Mantelatto

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  1. Raquel C. Buranelli
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  2. Fernando J. Zara
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  3. Fernando L. Mantelatto
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Correspondence to Fernando L. Mantelatto.

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Communicated by A. Schmidt-Rhaesa.

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Buranelli, R.C., Zara, F.J. & Mantelatto, F.L. Male reproductive system of the red brocade hermit crab Dardanus insignis (Diogenidae) and its relationship to other family members. Zoomorphology 133, 127–137 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-013-0208-1

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