Ultrastructural features of spermatozoa and their phylogenetic application in Zaprionus (Diptera, Drosophilidae).

ABSTRACT: The genus Zaprionus consists of approximately 60 species of drosophilids that are native to the Afrotropical region. The phylogenetic position of Zaprionus within the Drosophilidae family is still unresolved. In the present study, ultrastructural features of spermatozoa of 6 species of Zaprionus as well as the species Drosophila willistoni and Scaptodrosophila latifasciaeformis were analyzed. The ultrastructure revealed that the species have the same flagellar ultrastructure. Two mitochondrial derivatives, one larger than the other, close to the axoneme were present, primarily in D. willistoni (subgenus Sophophora). Except for Z. davidi and Z. tuberculatus, the analyzed species had paracrystalline material in both mitochondrial derivatives. Moreover, the testes showed 64 spermatozoa per bu

SUBMITTER: Almeida Rego Ldo N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4934708 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature