Morphological description of the male reproductive tract of the Clymene dolphin (Stenella clymene, Gray, 1850)

Stenella clymene is an endemic species of dolphin living in tropical regions in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its wide distribution, there is still scarce information on Stenella clymene, including its reproductive biology. In this context, this work describes the morphology of the whole male reproduc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta zoologica (Stockholm) 2021-07, Vol.102 (3), p.275-284
Main Authors: Spinelli, Lucas G., Randi, Caroline B., Mari, Renata B., Angrimani, Daniel S. R., Carvalho, Vitor Luz, Meirelles, Ana Carolina Oliveira, Vergara‐Parente, Jociery E., Guimarães, Juliana P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accessory gland
Animal reproductive organs
Aquatic mammals
Biology
Body organs
Bones
Cetacea
Compressors
Conformation
Dolphins
Endemic species
Epididymis
Flexing
Functional morphology
Males
Marine mammals
Microscopy
Morphology
Muscles
Organs
Penis
Prostate
reproduction
Reproductive organs
Reproductive system
Scanning microscopy
Spine
Stenella clymene
Stranding
Testes
Tropical climate
Tropical environment
Tropical environments
Vas deferens
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Summary:Stenella clymene is an endemic species of dolphin living in tropical regions in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its wide distribution, there is still scarce information on Stenella clymene, including its reproductive biology. In this context, this work describes the morphology of the whole male reproductive tract of the Clymene dolphin. Five males (N = 5) were studied after stranding on the northeast coast of Brazil. The analysis was performed through the use of macroscopic techniques and light and scanning microscopy. The male reproductive system consists of large testes wrapped around the tunica albuginea and adhered to the epididymis; the testes are attached to the abdominal cavity by the mesorchium. The ductus deferens is convoluted in the proximal portion and rectilinear in the distal portion. The prostate was the only accessory gland found, which is submerged by the prostate compressor muscle and lined with a dense fibroelastic capsule. The penis is classified as fibroelastic, with a spiral sigmoid flexure associated with a large volume of muscle tissue. The penis is inserted into two vestigial bones or pelvic bones, which exhibit no connection with the spine. In conclusion, the macro‐ and microscopic conformation and other morphofunctional features of the male reproductive organs of Stenella clymene are in accord with the anatomy observed in other Cetartiodactyla.
ISSN:0001-7272
1463-6395
DOI:10.1111/azo.12334