International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences

Volume (3) - Issue (3), 2016 pp 387-392

Title

Occurrence of oviducal glands in two tropical marine calanoid copepods Pseudodiaptomus annandalei and pseudodiaptomus serricaudatus – A new report

Author

K. Altaff

Abstract

The female reproductive system of the calanoid copepod species shows species specific variation in organization. Occurrence of oviducal gland in Pseudodiaptomus annandalei and Pseudodiaptomus serricaudatus is reported for the first time in present study. In the case of P. annandalei, and P. serricaudatus fertilized eggs undergo embryonic development in an ovisac. In both the species secretory activity of the oviducal gland synchronizes with the vitellogenesis and maturation of oocytes, which take place in the oviduct.  The release of secretory materials from the oviducal gland precedes the release of mature oocytes from the oviduct, and forms the membranous ovisacs in which fertilized eggs are deposited.  The oviducal glands of P. annandalei and P. serricaudatus show resemblance with the oviducal glands of freshwater diaptomids, Heliodiaptomus viduus and Sinodiaptomus (Rhinediaptomus) indicus which suggests a closer phylogenic affinity of the Pseudiaptomus genus with freshwater diaptomids. The role of oviducal gland in the female reproductive system of calanoid copepods is discussed.

Keywords

Calanoid copepod, Reproduction, Oviducal gland, Ovisac.

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Article History

Received on 04/05/2018, Accepted on 16/05/2018, Published on 23/05/2018