The genital and anal papillae of <i>Compsura heterura</i> (Characidae: Cheirodontinae): morphological structure and possible role in insemination

The function of the genital and anal papillae for insemination in Compsura heterura is discussed based on the description of their morphologies at different stages of the life cycle and during copulation and spawning. In males and females both the genital and anal papillae are involved in copulation in C. heterura. A pre-anal organ, anterior to the anus and stretched posteriorly, is present in adult males. The openings of the urinary channel and oviduct are separate in females. During copulation, there is an approximation between the female genital and anal papillae which become temporarily juxtaposed, forming a chamber enclosing the opening of the oviduct, which may also function in sperm capture. During spawning, the lateral edges of the female genital papilla are projected anteriorly, acquiring a tubular shape for oviposition.

Keywords:
Compsurini; Copula; Pre-anal organ; Sexual dimorphism; Spawning

Authorship

Antônio Queiroz Lezama

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Agronomia, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. (ALQ) anlezama@yahoo.com.br (corresponding author); (LRM) malabarb@ufrgs.br.Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulBrazilPorto Alegre, RS, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Agronomia, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. (ALQ) anlezama@yahoo.com.br (corresponding author); (LRM) malabarb@ufrgs.br.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6659-417X

Luiz R. Malabarba

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9607-3735

Edited by

Elizete Rizzo

CORRESPONDENCE

Antônio Queiroz Lezama anlezama@yahoo.com.br

AUTHOR’S CONTRIBUTION

Antônio Queiroz Lezama: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing-original draft, Writing-review and editing. Luiz R. Malabarba: Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Supervision, Writing-review and editing.

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing interests.

ETHICAL STATEMENT

This study conforms to the principles outlined in the Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals (Garber et al., 2011Garber JC, Barbee RW, Bielitzki JT, Clayton LA, Donovan JC, Kohn DF et al. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. Washington DC: The National Academies Press; 2011.) and was approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use of the UFRGS.

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures

Figures (3)

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FIGURE 1
| SEM photomicrograph of the genital and anal papillae of Compsura heterura males in ventral view (anterior to left). A. Juvenile specimen measuring 15.2 mm SL. B. Juvenile specimen measuring 19.02 mm SL. C. Amplified view of the pre anal organ showed in B. D. Adult male (27.18 mm SL) showing the hood-like shape of the genital papilla. E. Adult male (28.21 mm SL) showing the hypertrophied pre-anal organ. F. Adult male (26.67 mm SL) showing genital papilla immediately after copulation showing the pre anal organ covering the anus. AN = anus; EP = epithelia lateral to the anus; GP = genital papilla; PO = pre anal organ; UO = urogenital opening.

Thumbnail

FIGURE 2
| Histological section of the adult male pre anal organ, in sagittal view, showing its acidophilic granules (26.97 mm SL; aquarium specimen). AN=anus; PO= pre anal organ; arrow = acidophilic granules.

Thumbnail

FIGURE 3
| SEM photomicrographs (A, C, E) and photos under stereomicroscope (B, F) of the genital and anal papillae in ventral view (anterior to left), and (D) histology of the genital and anal papillae of Compsura heterura females. A. Juvenile female measuring 17.6 mm SL. B. Virgin adult female measuring 26.56 mm SL showing the hood-like genital papilla and anal papilla. C. Genital papilla of a specimen measuring 26.56 mm SL, in ventral view, showing the separation between the genital and urinary openings. D. Genital papilla of a specimen measuring 27.24 mm SL showing the separation between the genital and urinary openings. E. Genital papilla of a specimen measuring 27.02 mm SL euthanized immediately after copulation showing the anal and genital papilla close to each other, forming a closed cavity covering the genital opening. F. Genital papilla of a specimen measuring 26.87 mm SL euthanized during spawning. AN = anus; AP = anal papilla; GO = genital opening; GP = genital papilla; OV = ovary; UD = urinary duct; UO = urinary opening.

FIGURE 1 | SEM photomicrograph of the genital and anal papillae of Compsura heterura males in ventral view (anterior to left). A. Juvenile specimen measuring 15.2 mm SL. B. Juvenile specimen measuring 19.02 mm SL. C. Amplified view of the pre anal organ showed in B. D. Adult male (27.18 mm SL) showing the hood-like shape of the genital papilla. E. Adult male (28.21 mm SL) showing the hypertrophied pre-anal organ. F. Adult male (26.67 mm SL) showing genital papilla immediately after copulation showing the pre anal organ covering the anus. AN = anus; EP = epithelia lateral to the anus; GP = genital papilla; PO = pre anal organ; UO = urogenital opening.

FIGURE 2 | Histological section of the adult male pre anal organ, in sagittal view, showing its acidophilic granules (26.97 mm SL; aquarium specimen). AN=anus; PO= pre anal organ; arrow = acidophilic granules.

FIGURE 3 | SEM photomicrographs (A, C, E) and photos under stereomicroscope (B, F) of the genital and anal papillae in ventral view (anterior to left), and (D) histology of the genital and anal papillae of Compsura heterura females. A. Juvenile female measuring 17.6 mm SL. B. Virgin adult female measuring 26.56 mm SL showing the hood-like genital papilla and anal papilla. C. Genital papilla of a specimen measuring 26.56 mm SL, in ventral view, showing the separation between the genital and urinary openings. D. Genital papilla of a specimen measuring 27.24 mm SL showing the separation between the genital and urinary openings. E. Genital papilla of a specimen measuring 27.02 mm SL euthanized immediately after copulation showing the anal and genital papilla close to each other, forming a closed cavity covering the genital opening. F. Genital papilla of a specimen measuring 26.87 mm SL euthanized during spawning. AN = anus; AP = anal papilla; GO = genital opening; GP = genital papilla; OV = ovary; UD = urinary duct; UO = urinary opening.

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Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia Neotropical Ichthyology, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura, Universidade Estadual de Maringá., Av. Colombo, 5790, 87020-900, Phone number: +55 44-3011-4632 - Maringá - PR - Brazil
E-mail: neoichth@nupelia.uem.br

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