Comparative morphology of spermatozoa of the rodent genus Peromyscus (Muridae). American Museum novitates ; no. 2532

Abstract

"The morphology of spermatozoa of 27 species and seven subgenera of the genus Peromyscus was studied. Measurements of length and width of the head, midpiece length, and tail length of the sperm of 25 species are given. Two major sperm types occur in the series. Sperm of two species of the subgenus Habromys examined have large heads lacking the hooklike process characteristic of many murid rodents, whereas all other species studied have sperm with hooked heads. Although there are species differences in shape of the head and of various measurements of the sperm among the group with hooked heads, no definite patterns of variation corresponding to presently recognized subgenera or to the species groups within the subgenus Peromyscus were seen. There is no obvious correlation between body size and sperm size"--P. [1].