Volumen 45 - Número 1: 187-194 | 2010
Nota Científica

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Morfología comparada de los pleópodos del macho de Rhynchocinetes typus (Caridea: Rhynchocinetidae)

Rubí M. Martínez¹ y Enrique Dupré^1*

¹Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile

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The morphological adaptation that the first pair of pleopods has experienced in the Caridea group, permits to characterize them as gonopods which are used for transferring spermatophores to the female during the mating. In order to know the function of the pleopods in the transfer of spermatophores during the mating of the rock shrimp Rhynchocinetes typus, it was necessary to determine the morphology of the male pleopods. The analysis of the first pair of pleopods showed a different morphology compared to the subsequent pair of pleopods, and notable adaptative differences in comparison with the typical morphology of other Caridea. These results suggest that both pairs of pleopods are involved in the transfer of spermatophores to the female.

Key words: Gonopods, endopods, exopods, appendix masculina

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