Biomphalaria tenagophila is a simultaneous hermaphrodite whose's male function was evaluated by the growth of the sex organs in relation to the shell diameter. New techniques were applied to measure reproductive organs without apparent distorsion and to count individual ovotestis follicles. During the growth of sexually mature specimens of B. tenagophila the ovotestis follicles increased in number, but the maximum and minimum values are smaller than the ones found in the literature. The number of B. glabrata prostate diverticula and ovotestis follicles were greater than that of B. tenagophila. Although the length of ovotestis, prostate, penial sheath and muciparous-oothecal gland varied during B. tenagophila's growth, the number of prostate diverticula remained signifcantly stable.
Biomphalaria tenagophila; growth; reprodutive system
