Microscopic Anatomy of the Reproductive System in Two Sympatric Species of Fissurella Bruguiére, 1789 (Mollusca: Vetigastropoda)
Gonzalo A. Collado & Donald I. Brown
Laboratorio de Biología de la
Reproducción y del Desarrollo, Departamento de Biología y Ciencias
Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Casilla
5030, Valparaíso, Chile.
An Open Access article from Int J. MorphoL, 25(2):315-322, 2007.
SUMMARY: This study describes the microscopic anatomy of the reproductive systems of the keyhole limpets Fissurella latimarginata and Fissurella cumingi to
test the existence of a possible isolating reproductive mechanism of
morphophysiological type between species, and consequently to determine
if the findings provide a valid taxonomic characteristic to distinguish
these sympatric species. The results show that in both species the
reproductive system is intimately associated with the excretory system.
The gonad has a septa organization, and is connected with the distal
portion of the right kidney by means of a renopericardial duct which
functions as a genital duct. The gametes are evacuated to the mantle
cavity through the right kidney opening. Besides transport of the
gametes, the genital duct, which connects with the pericardium through
the nephrostome, bears a gland attached to its inner wall both in males
and females. No marked anatomical differences were noted between the
reproductive systems of the two limpets which would allow their
unequivocal taxonomic differentiation at the species level.
KEY WORDS: Mollusk; Fissurellidae; Reproductive system; Microscopic anatomy; Taxonomy.