Ultrastructural study of spermatozoa of the neotropical lizards, Tropidurus semitaeniatus and Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae)

Abstract

A detailed description of the sperm ultrastructure of Tropidurus semitaeniatus and T. torquatus is provided. Mature spermatozoa of T. semitaeniatus and T. torquatus are filiform and characterized by: apical portion of acrosome depressed; perforatorium single; epinuclear lucent zone well developed; midpiece short; mitochondria columnar; midpiece with three sets of alternating ring structures and mitochondria (rs1/m1, rs2/m2, rs3/m3); nuclear shoulders rounded; nucleus elongate; fibres 3 and 8 enlarged; and fibrous sheath in midpiece. Spermatozoa ofTropidurus are unusual in possessing a unilateral electron-lucent ridge at the surface of the acrosome and an epinuclear electron-lucent zone. The two species are very similar, differing in details such as degree of acrosome flattening, presence of bulging at nuclear base, and arrangement of microtubules in the endpiece. Comparisons between Tropiduridae and other families of iguanian lizards are made.