Descriptions of the mature spermatozoa of the lizardsCrotaphytus bicinctores,Gambelia wislizenii (Crotaphytidae), andAnolis carolinensis (Polychrotidae) (Reptilia, Squamata, Iguania)

Abstract

The spermatozoa of Crotaphytus bicinctores and Gambelia wislizenii (Crotaphytidae), and Anolis carolinensis (Polychrotidae) exhibit the squamate autapomorphies of a single perforatorium extending anteriorly from the apical tip of the paracrystalline subacrosomal cone, the presence of an epinuclear electron-lucent region, and extension of the fibrous sheath into the midpiece. Crotaphytid sperm differ from those of polychrotids in several respects, including: the structure of the perforatorium, the size of the epinuclear electron-lucent region, aspects of the acrosome complex, the arrangement and structure of intermitochondrial dense bodies, and in the distance the fibrous sheath extends into the midpiece. The sperm of C. bicinctores, G. wislizenii, and A. carolinensis are most similar to those of the agamids and phrynosomatids examined to date. No spermatozoal autapomorphies for Crotaphytidae or Polychrotidae were found. The condition of having the intermitochondrial dense bodies arranged in regular incomplete rings is tentatively defined as a synapomorphy of Iguania (although modified in Chamaeleonidae). Spermatozoal ultrastructure offers no characters that justify the separation of Iguanidae (sensu lato) into several separate families.

Ultrastructural study of spermiogenesis in the Jamaican Gray Anole, Anolis lineatopus (Reptilia: Polychrotidae)

“…2008). This feature is also noted during spermiogenesis within A. lineatopus and it is in a similar location in the mature spermatozoa of Anolis carolinensis (Scheltinga et al. 2001).…”

Ultrastructural study of spermiogenesis in the Jamaican Gray Anole, Anolis lineatopus (Reptilia: Polychrotidae)

“…2008). This feature is also noted during spermiogenesis within A. lineatopus and it is in a similar location in the mature spermatozoa of Anolis carolinensis (Scheltinga et al. 2001).…”

Morphogenesis of the fibrous sheath in the marsupial spermatozoon

“…An accessory sperm tail structure, closely resembling the mammalian fibrous sheath, also occurs in reptiles (Furieri, 1970; Harding et al. 1995; Ishmail & Dehlawi, 1995; Scheltinga et al. 2001) and non‐passerine birds (Baccetti & Afzelius, 1976; Burgess et al.…”

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of the lizardIguana iguana(Reptilia, Squamata, Iguanidae) and the variability of sperm morphology among iguanian lizards

“…All synapomorphies of Tetrapoda and Amniota (Jamieson, 1995a, 1999) and Squamata (Jamieson, 1995b) were also observed in the sperm of I. iguana . A presumed synapomorphy of Iguania, the arrangement of intermitochondrial dense bodies as regular incomplete rings (Scheltinga et al. 2001), was also present in I. iguana .…”

Ultrastructural study of spermiogenesis in the Jamaican Gray Anole, Anolis lineatopus (Reptilia: Polychrotidae)

“…2008). This feature is also noted during spermiogenesis within A. lineatopus and it is in a similar location in the mature spermatozoa of Anolis carolinensis (Scheltinga et al. 2001).…”

Morphogenesis of the fibrous sheath in the marsupial spermatozoon

“…An accessory sperm tail structure, closely resembling the mammalian fibrous sheath, also occurs in reptiles (Furieri, 1970; Harding et al. 1995; Ishmail & Dehlawi, 1995; Scheltinga et al. 2001) and non‐passerine birds (Baccetti & Afzelius, 1976; Burgess et al.…”

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of the lizardIguana iguana(Reptilia, Squamata, Iguanidae) and the variability of sperm morphology among iguanian lizards

“…All synapomorphies of Tetrapoda and Amniota (Jamieson, 1995a, 1999) and Squamata (Jamieson, 1995b) were also observed in the sperm of I. iguana . A presumed synapomorphy of Iguania, the arrangement of intermitochondrial dense bodies as regular incomplete rings (Scheltinga et al. 2001), was also present in I. iguana .…”

Ultrastructural study of spermiogenesis in the Jamaican Gray Anole, Anolis lineatopus (Reptilia: Polychrotidae)

“…2008). This feature is also noted during spermiogenesis within A. lineatopus and it is in a similar location in the mature spermatozoa of Anolis carolinensis (Scheltinga et al. 2001).…”

Morphogenesis of the fibrous sheath in the marsupial spermatozoon

“…An accessory sperm tail structure, closely resembling the mammalian fibrous sheath, also occurs in reptiles (Furieri, 1970; Harding et al. 1995; Ishmail & Dehlawi, 1995; Scheltinga et al. 2001) and non‐passerine birds (Baccetti & Afzelius, 1976; Burgess et al.…”

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of the lizardIguana iguana(Reptilia, Squamata, Iguanidae) and the variability of sperm morphology among iguanian lizards

“…All synapomorphies of Tetrapoda and Amniota (Jamieson, 1995a, 1999) and Squamata (Jamieson, 1995b) were also observed in the sperm of I. iguana . A presumed synapomorphy of Iguania, the arrangement of intermitochondrial dense bodies as regular incomplete rings (Scheltinga et al. 2001), was also present in I. iguana .…”