Morphology and histology of the female reproductive system of the mangrove land crab, Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (Brachyura: Ocypodidae)

• Autor(a) principal: Sampaio,Flávia Duarte Ferraz
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Outros Autores: Carmo,Tania Mara Simões do, Penna,Assunta Maria
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Nauplius
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-64972011000200006
• topic: Anatomy; histology; mangrove crab; oogenesis; reproduction

This study provides a detailed description of the macro- and microscopic anatomy of the female reproductive system of the mangrove land crab, Ucides cordatus. A total of 277 females were collected between October 1998 and September 1999 in mangroves of the Victoria Bay, State of Espírito Santo, Southeast Brazil. The reproductive system of this species is composed of two ovaries united together by a bridge, present in the form of an H when viewed dorsally, and two seminal receptacles. Histological analysis revealed the following six stages of oocyte development: I. young germ cells (oogonias); II. oocytes of the germinative centers; III. oocytes with lipid vitellogenesis; IV. vitellogenic oocytes with lipid and protein; V. oocytes with completed vitellogenesis; and VI. oocytes in hyalinization. The anatomy of the ovary is characterized by the following six stages of development: I. immature; II. at maturity; III. mature; IV. partly spawned; V. fully spawned; and VI. in recovery. Reproduction was observed in summer, and the results suggesting that this species showed multiple spawnings.