Sperm morphology of murid rodents from Malaysia and its possible phylogenetic significance. American Museum novitates ; no. 2856

Abstract

"The morphology of spermatozoa from rodents of peninsular Malaysia was investigated with the light microscope. The sperm had a long tapering head and long tail in four species of Rattus, two species of Leopoldamys, and in single species of Berylmys and Sundamys. Sperm head morphology of the three species of Niviventer varied, but in two of them it was generally similar to that of Rattus. By contrast the sperm head was broader and the tail much shorter in the three species of Maxomys and in single species of Chiropodomys and Hapalomys. Highly divergent forms of spermatozoa occurred Pithecheir, Lenothrix canus, and bandicota bengalensis. No species were found in which the sperm head had two extra ventral hooks as occurs in most of the Australian Hydromyinae. The possible phylogenetic implications of these findings are briefly discussed"--P. [1].