Genital morphology of the male South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) and biological implications

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

Alex Sander D. Machado¹  Alfredo Le Bas²  Maria Angélica Miglino¹  Rudolf Leiser²  Paula De Carvalho Papa¹ 

[1] ,Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Setor de Anatomia do Departamento de CirurgiaSão Paulo SP ,Brazil

关键词: Male genital organs;    South American fur seal;    Arctocephalus australis;    morphophysiology;    Órgãos genitais masculinos;    Lobo marinho sul Americano;    Arctocephalus australis;    morfologia;    ecofisiologia;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0100-736X2012001300013

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Male capacity for spreading genes to a great number of descendents and to determine population dynamics depend directly on the genital organs. Morphological studies in pinnipeds are scarce and the functional meaning of some characteristics has never been discussed. We hypothesized that Arctocephalus australis (A. australis) shows morphophysiological adaptations in order to guarantee the perpetuation of the species in the unique annual mating season. Seven males, dead from natural causes, had their genital organs collected and fixed for morphological description. Some features differ from other described mammalian males and are closely related to the biology and reproductive cycle of this species, as the scrotal epidermis, absence of glandular portion in the ductus deferens and spermatogenic epithelium suggest a recrudescent testis period. The corona glandis exhibits a singular arrangement: its erectile border looks like a formation of petals and its association with the os penis gives a "lily-flower" form to this region. We propose the name margo petaliformis to this particular erectile border of the corona glandis because of its similarity to a flower corola. The male genital organs of A. australis show morphological features compatible with adaptation to environment requirements and reproductive efficiency.

【 授权许可】

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