The Experts below are selected from a list of 192 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Antonio Barreiro - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
diets of marine mammals stranded on the northwestern spanish atlantic coast with special reference to cephalopoda
Fisheries Research, 1994Co-Authors: Angel F Gonzalez, Ángel Guerra, Alfredo López, Antonio BarreiroAbstract:Abstract Stomach contents from 59 marine mammals, 28 Delphinus delphis , 14 Tursiops truncatus , three Grampus griseus , four Stenella coeruleoalba , three Globicephala melas , one Ziphius cavirostris , four Phocoena phocoena , one Physeter macrocephalus and one Balaenoptera acutorostrata stranded on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast from December 1990 to March 1993 were examined. A total of 9076 fish otoliths and 654 cephalopod upper and lower beaks were collected. The otoliths were identified only to family level, representing by number 65% Gadidae, 24% Gobiidae, 6% Atherinidae, 2% Ammodytidae, 1.5% Clupeidae and the rest Carangidae, Labridae, Argentinidae, Macroramphosidae and Bothidae. The cephalopod beaks belonged to 12 species of nine families. The cephalopod families contributing food of these marine mammals, in order of contribution by number of specimens are, the Loliginidae (56.9%), the Octopodidae (25.3%), the Ommastrephidae (11.9%), the Sepiolidae (2.4%), the Histioteuthidae (0.9%), the Chiroteuthidae (0.9%), the Cranchiidae (0.8%), the Mastigoteuthidae (0.3%) and the Gonatidae (0.15%). The great part of the cephalopods observed in the stomach contents were small in size, except for some octopods in Grampus griseus and Globicephala melas , and Mastigoteuthis sp. in Physeter macrocephalus . The results indicated that D. delphis, T. truncatus and Phocoena phocoena are primarily fish-eating, while Grampus griseus, Globicephala melas and Physeter macrocephalus had only cephalopod remains in their stomachs.
-
Diets of marine mammals stranded on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast with special reference to Cephalopoda
Fisheries Research, 1994Co-Authors: Angel F Gonzalez, Antonio BarreiroAbstract:13 páginas, 4 tablas, 1 apéndiceStomach contents from 59 marine mammals, 28 Delphinus delphis, 14 Tursiops truncatus, three Grampus griseus, four Stenella coeruleoalba, three Globicephala melas, one Ziphius cavirostris, four Phocoena phocoena, one Physeter macrocephalus and one Balaenoptera acutorostrata stranded on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast from December 1990 to March 1993 were examined.\ud \ud A total of 9076 fish otoliths and 654 cephalopod upper and lower beaks were collected. The otoliths were identified only to family level, representing by number 65% Gadidae, 24% Gobiidae, 6% Atherinidae, 2% Ammodytidae, 1.5% Clupeidae and the rest Carangidae, Labridae, Argentinidae, Macroramphosidae and Bothidae. The cephalopod beaks belonged to 12 species of nine families. The cephalopod families contributing food of these marine mammals, in order of contribution by number of specimens are, the Loliginidae (56.9%), the Octopodidae (25.3%), the Ommastrephidae (11.9%), the Sepiolidae (2.4%), the Histioteuthidae (0.9%), the Chiroteuthidae (0.9%), the Cranchiidae (0.8%), the Mastigoteuthidae (0.3%) and the Gonatidae (0.15%). The great part of the cephalopods observed in the stomach contents were small in size, except for some octopods in Grampus griseus and Globicephala melas, and Mastigoteuthis sp. in Physeter macrocephalus. The results indicated that D. delphis, T. truncatus and Phocoena phocoena are primarily fish-eating, while Grampus griseus, Globicephala melas and Physeter macrocephalus had only cephalopod remains in their stomachs.This work\ud was funded by the Commission of the European Communities within the frame\ud of this EEC research programme in the fisheries sector (FAR, contract no. MA\ud 1.146).Peer reviewe
Angel F Gonzalez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
diets of marine mammals stranded on the northwestern spanish atlantic coast with special reference to cephalopoda
Fisheries Research, 1994Co-Authors: Angel F Gonzalez, Ángel Guerra, Alfredo López, Antonio BarreiroAbstract:Abstract Stomach contents from 59 marine mammals, 28 Delphinus delphis , 14 Tursiops truncatus , three Grampus griseus , four Stenella coeruleoalba , three Globicephala melas , one Ziphius cavirostris , four Phocoena phocoena , one Physeter macrocephalus and one Balaenoptera acutorostrata stranded on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast from December 1990 to March 1993 were examined. A total of 9076 fish otoliths and 654 cephalopod upper and lower beaks were collected. The otoliths were identified only to family level, representing by number 65% Gadidae, 24% Gobiidae, 6% Atherinidae, 2% Ammodytidae, 1.5% Clupeidae and the rest Carangidae, Labridae, Argentinidae, Macroramphosidae and Bothidae. The cephalopod beaks belonged to 12 species of nine families. The cephalopod families contributing food of these marine mammals, in order of contribution by number of specimens are, the Loliginidae (56.9%), the Octopodidae (25.3%), the Ommastrephidae (11.9%), the Sepiolidae (2.4%), the Histioteuthidae (0.9%), the Chiroteuthidae (0.9%), the Cranchiidae (0.8%), the Mastigoteuthidae (0.3%) and the Gonatidae (0.15%). The great part of the cephalopods observed in the stomach contents were small in size, except for some octopods in Grampus griseus and Globicephala melas , and Mastigoteuthis sp. in Physeter macrocephalus . The results indicated that D. delphis, T. truncatus and Phocoena phocoena are primarily fish-eating, while Grampus griseus, Globicephala melas and Physeter macrocephalus had only cephalopod remains in their stomachs.
-
Diets of marine mammals stranded on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast with special reference to Cephalopoda
Fisheries Research, 1994Co-Authors: Angel F Gonzalez, Antonio BarreiroAbstract:13 páginas, 4 tablas, 1 apéndiceStomach contents from 59 marine mammals, 28 Delphinus delphis, 14 Tursiops truncatus, three Grampus griseus, four Stenella coeruleoalba, three Globicephala melas, one Ziphius cavirostris, four Phocoena phocoena, one Physeter macrocephalus and one Balaenoptera acutorostrata stranded on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast from December 1990 to March 1993 were examined.\ud \ud A total of 9076 fish otoliths and 654 cephalopod upper and lower beaks were collected. The otoliths were identified only to family level, representing by number 65% Gadidae, 24% Gobiidae, 6% Atherinidae, 2% Ammodytidae, 1.5% Clupeidae and the rest Carangidae, Labridae, Argentinidae, Macroramphosidae and Bothidae. The cephalopod beaks belonged to 12 species of nine families. The cephalopod families contributing food of these marine mammals, in order of contribution by number of specimens are, the Loliginidae (56.9%), the Octopodidae (25.3%), the Ommastrephidae (11.9%), the Sepiolidae (2.4%), the Histioteuthidae (0.9%), the Chiroteuthidae (0.9%), the Cranchiidae (0.8%), the Mastigoteuthidae (0.3%) and the Gonatidae (0.15%). The great part of the cephalopods observed in the stomach contents were small in size, except for some octopods in Grampus griseus and Globicephala melas, and Mastigoteuthis sp. in Physeter macrocephalus. The results indicated that D. delphis, T. truncatus and Phocoena phocoena are primarily fish-eating, while Grampus griseus, Globicephala melas and Physeter macrocephalus had only cephalopod remains in their stomachs.This work\ud was funded by the Commission of the European Communities within the frame\ud of this EEC research programme in the fisheries sector (FAR, contract no. MA\ud 1.146).Peer reviewe
P L Pascoe - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
the diet of sperm whales physeter macrocephalus linnaeus 1758 off the azores
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 1993Co-Authors: M. R. Clarke, Helen R Martins, P L PascoeAbstract:Stomach contents from 17 sperm whales, 15 males and two females, caught during commercial activities in 1981-1984 in the Azores region were identified and measured. A total of 28 738 cephalopods and 16 fish were represented in the collections. In addition, there were tunicates in two whales and man-made products in three whales. None of the stomachs were empty. Flesh was present in 94.1% and indigestible fragments alone, including mandibles (beaks) of cephalopods, were present in 5.9% of the stomachs. Twelve species of cephalopod were represented by flesh and 40 species were represented by lower beaks. The cephalopod families contributing food to the whales in this region are, in order of their contribution by estimated mass, the Octopoteuthidae (39.8%), the Histioteuthidae (32.7%), the Architeuthidae (12.1%), the Lepidoteuthidae (4.5%), the Ommastrephidae (3.4%), the Pholidoteuthidae (2.1%), the Cycloteuthidae (1.9%), the Cranchiidae (1.7%) and eight other families each contributing less than 1% by mass. Presence of Gonatus beaks in the stomachs show which whales have migrated southwards to the Azores just prior to capture and the presence of a large Megalocranchia species possibly shows which whales have migrated from higher latitudes off Iceland. However, the presence of Teuthowenia maculata shows which whales came north from the West coast of Africa, just prior to capture. The modal mass of cephalopods consumed is 400-450 g which represents 0.00001 of the whales' body mass. 77.5% of the species eaten have luminous organs and 82% of the species are neutrally buoyant. It seems likely that the sperm whale is obtaining 77% of its food by swimming through luminous shoals of slow-swimming, neutrally bouyant squids and only about 23% by chasing faster swimming, larger cephalopods. Cephalopods not previously recorded from the North Atlantic are Onychoteuthis borealijaponicus, and Histioteuthis bonnellii corpuscula. Histioteuthis?miranda may have been collected by the whales much further south than the Azores. Species not recorded previously in the diet of sperm whales in the North Atlantic are Ommastrephes bartrami, Gonatus steenstrupi, Histioteuthis?miranda, H. bonnellii corpuscula, H. meleagroteuthis, Discoteuthis laciniosa, Mastigoteuthis species, Chiroteuthis species,?Helicocranchia, Liocranchia reinhardti, and?Liguriella.
P. Rodhouse - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Inter-annual variation in the cephalopod component of the diet of the wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans, breeding at Bird Island, South Georgia
Marine Biology, 2003Co-Authors: J. Xavier, J. Croxall, P. Trathan, P. RodhouseAbstract:Cephalopods play an important role in the diet of many predators of the Southern Ocean. We investigated the cephalopod component of the diet of the wandering albatross, during breeding at South Georgia, from 269 boluses containing more than 34,000 beaks (corresponding to 19,452 individual cephalopods), collected between 1989 and 1999, and assessed the inter-annual variability of the cephalopod species, the level of scavenging on cephalopods by wandering albatrosses and the relationships between cephalopod availability and wandering albatross breeding parameters (breeding period, breeding success, fledging period, fledging success, egg mass and chick mass). We also proposed possible foraging areas of wandering albatrosses based on the cephalopods eaten. The cephalopod component of the diet of wandering albatrosses was relatively stable over the 11 years of the study. By number of lower beaks, three species predominated in the cephalopod component of the diet: Kondakovia longimana (29.5% of the total number of lower beaks; family Onychoteuthidae), Taonius sp. (20.4%; family Cranchiidae) and Histioteuthis sp. B (19.5%; family Histioteuthidae). K. longimana was consistently the predominant cephalopod species by mass in every year of the study (range 60.2–88.7% of mass contribution to diet). A minimum estimate of 30% of the number of cephalopods scavenged corresponded to 85% of the total mass of the cephalopods that contributed to the diet. Wandering albatrosses fed consistently more on "Antarctic" cephalopods than on "sub-Antarctic" or "subtropical" cephalopods in all years of the study, suggesting that Antarctic waters are an important foraging area for wandering albatrosses. Although some significant correlations between cephalopod abundance and wandering albatross breeding parameters existed (e.g. correlation between Taonius sp. by number and fledging success), none included K. longimana . When comparing groups of variables (using canonical analysis), no correlations were found between the most important cephalopod species (by number and by mass), total mass of squid consumed, cephalopod diversity index ( H ) for each year, and wandering albatross breeding parameters. This may reflect the possibility that other components in the diet (e.g. fish and carrion) are more important or, more likely, that the consistency across years of the wandering albatross breeding performance indicates that it is well buffered against fluctuations in prey availability.
Marian, José Eduardo Amoroso Rodriguez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
O enigma da "reação espermatofórica": breve síntese do conhecimento sobre a estrutura e o funcionamento dos espermatóforos dos cefalópodes (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)
USP, 2011Co-Authors: Marian, José Eduardo Amoroso RodriguezAbstract:Cefalópodes coleóides (lulas, sépias e polvos) produzem espermatóforos muito complexos que são transferidos à fêmea durante a cópula por meio do hectocótilo, um apêndice modificado nos machos. Durante a transferência à fêmea, ocorre a chamada "reação espermatofórica", complexo processo de evaginação do aparato ejaculatório do espermatóforo, que conduz à exteriorização da massa espermática e corpo cimentante. A presente revisão sintetiza o conhecimento acerca da morfologia e funcionamento desta estrutura exclusiva dos coleóides, identificando lacunas e definindo estratégias que possibilitem avanços na área. Poucos trabalhos abordam com detalhes a morfologia e anatomia funcional dos espermatóforos dos cefalópodes, grande parte do conhecimento acerca da estrutura do espermatóforo tendo sido gerada por trabalhos clássicos do século XIX e início do século XX. Investigações acerca do funcionamento dos espermatóforos são consideravelmente mais raras, estando o conhecimento básico sobre a reação espermatofórica restrito a apenas 19 espécies de coleóides. A revisão da literatura especializada permite sugerir que existem dois tipos básicos de fixação de espermatóforos em Decapodiformes (lulas e sepióides): fixação superficial e implante profundo (ou intra-dérmico). Na fixação superficial, comum em diversas espécies (e.g., Loliginidae, Sepiidae, Ommastrephidae), a base dos espermatângios é aderida ao tecido-alvo aparentemente por meio do corpo cimentante, a partir de substâncias adesivas e, em alguns casos, estruturas de fixação. No implante profundo, comum em alguns grupos de lulas oceânicas e de águas profundas (e.g., Architeuthidae, Cranchiidae, Octopoteuthidae, Sepiolidae), os espermatóforos implantam-se inteiramente no corpo da fêmea, de forma autônoma. Permanece desconhecido o mecanismo responsável pelo implante profundo. Em Octopodiformes (polvos), o espermatóforo é inserido no gonoduto feminino, alcançando a glândula oviducal, onde estão localizadas as espermatecas, ou a cavidade do ovário. Como o funcionamento extracorpóreo dos espermatóforos depende exclusivamente da intrincada estrutura e organização de seus componentes (e.g., membranas e túnicas), somente investigações detalhadas dessas estruturas proverão as bases para a compreensão do funcionamento e da exata função do complexo espermatóforo dos coleóides. Recomenda-se o desenvolvimento de um protocolo simples e eficiente para coloração e preparação total de espermatóforos, de forma que seja possível expandir as descrições morfológicas do espermatóforo em estudos taxonômicos e anatômicos, permitindo, portanto, ampliação do conhecimento acerca desta enigmática estrutura.Coleoid cephalopods (squids, cuttlefishes, and octopods) produce elaborate spermatophores, which are transferred to the female during mating with the aid of a modified appendage called hectocotylus. During transfer, the spermatophores undergo the so-called spermatophoric reaction, i.e., a complex process of evagination of the ejaculatory apparatus that, ultimately, leads to the extrusion of the cement body and sperm mass. The present review summarizes the bulk of our knowledge on the morphology and functioning of this exclusive coleoid character, identifying gaps and defining strategies to stimulate advancements in this area. Few detailed morphological studies regarding this structure have yet been conducted, and much of the knowledge on the coleoid spermatophore was generated by classical studies of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Furthermore, investigations on the functioning of this structure are even rarer, the basic knowledge of the spermatophoric reaction being restricted to 19 species. There seems to be a consensus in the literature that two types of attachment of spermatophores occur in decapodiforms (i.e., squids and sepioids): superficial attachment, and deep (or intradermal) implantation. In superficial attachment, the base of the spermatangia ends up attached on the surface of the female's body, by means of the adhesive contents and, in some cases, attachment structures of the cement body; this type is found in several groups of decapodiforms (e.g., Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae, Sepiidae). In deep implantation, the spermatangia penetrate autonomously the integument, embedding themselves completely into the female tissue; this strategy is common to some oceanic and deep-sea species (e.g., Architeuthidae, Cranchiidae, Octopoteuthidae, Sepiolidae). The mechanism responsible for deep implantation remains unknown. In octopodiforms (octopods), the spermatophore is inserted inside the lumen of the female gonoduct, reaching the oviducal gland, where the spermathecae are located, or the ovarian cavity. Since the extracorporeal functioning of coleoid spermatophores must rely entirely on the intricate structure and organization of the tunics, membranes, and other structures composing the spermatophore, only detailed investigations of these components would provide the basis for comprehending its mechanics. This paper recommends the development of a specific, efficient protocol for whole-mount staining and permanent preparation of coleoid spermatophores, in order to enable expansion of spermatophore morphological descriptions in taxonomic and anatomical studies, and therefore enhance the knowledge of this unique, still enigmatic structure.IBUSP - Departamento de ZoologiaCAPES PROAP-200
-
O enigma da "reação espermatofórica": breve síntese do conhecimento sobre a estrutura e o funcionamento dos espermatóforos dos cefalópodes (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)
Universidade de São Paulo (USP) Museu de Zoologia (MZUSP)., 2011Co-Authors: Marian, José Eduardo Amoroso RodriguezAbstract:Coleoid cephalopods (squids, cuttlefishes, and octopods) produce elaborate spermatophores, which are transferred to the female during mating with the aid of a modified appendage called hectocotylus. During transfer, the spermatophores undergo the so-called spermatophoric reaction, i.e., a complex process of evagination of the ejaculatory apparatus that, ultimately, leads to the extrusion of the cement body and sperm mass. The present review summarizes the bulk of our knowledge on the morphology and functioning of this exclusive coleoid character, identifying gaps and defining strategies to stimulate advancements in this area. Few detailed morphological studies regarding this structure have yet been conducted, and much of the knowledge on the coleoid spermatophore was generated by classical studies of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Furthermore, investigations on the functioning of this structure are even rarer, the basic knowledge of the spermatophoric reaction being restricted to 19 species. There seems to be a consensus in the literature that two types of attachment of spermatophores occur in decapodiforms (i.e., squids and sepioids): superficial attachment, and deep (or intradermal) implantation. In superficial attachment, the base of the spermatangia ends up attached on the surface of the female's body, by means of the adhesive contents and, in some cases, attachment structures of the cement body; this type is found in several groups of decapodiforms (e.g., Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae, Sepiidae). In deep implantation, the spermatangia penetrate autonomously the integument, embedding themselves completely into the female tissue; this strategy is common to some oceanic and deep-sea species (e.g., Architeuthidae, Cranchiidae, Octopoteuthidae, Sepiolidae). The mechanism responsible for deep implantation remains unknown. In octopodiforms (octopods), the spermatophore is inserted inside the lumen of the female gonoduct, reaching the oviducal gland, where the spermathecae are located, or the ovarian cavity. Since the extracorporeal functioning of coleoid spermatophores must rely entirely on the intricate structure and organization of the tunics, membranes, and other structures composing the spermatophore, only detailed investigations of these components would provide the basis for comprehending its mechanics. This paper recommends the development of a specific, efficient protocol for whole-mount staining and permanent preparation of coleoid spermatophores, in order to enable expansion of spermatophore morphological descriptions in taxonomic and anatomical studies, and therefore enhance the knowledge of this unique, still enigmatic structure.Cefalópodes coleóides (lulas, sépias e polvos) produzem espermatóforos muito complexos que são transferidos à fêmea durante a cópula por meio do hectocótilo, um apêndice modificado nos machos. Durante a transferência à fêmea, ocorre a chamada "reação espermatofórica", complexo processo de evaginação do aparato ejaculatório do espermatóforo, que conduz à exteriorização da massa espermática e corpo cimentante. A presente revisão sintetiza o conhecimento acerca da morfologia e funcionamento desta estrutura exclusiva dos coleóides, identificando lacunas e definindo estratégias que possibilitem avanços na área. Poucos trabalhos abordam com detalhes a morfologia e anatomia funcional dos espermatóforos dos cefalópodes, grande parte do conhecimento acerca da estrutura do espermatóforo tendo sido gerada por trabalhos clássicos do século XIX e início do século XX. Investigações acerca do funcionamento dos espermatóforos são consideravelmente mais raras, estando o conhecimento básico sobre a reação espermatofórica restrito a apenas 19 espécies de coleóides. A revisão da literatura especializada permite sugerir que existem dois tipos básicos de fixação de espermatóforos em Decapodiformes (lulas e sepióides): fixação superficial e implante profundo (ou intra-dérmico). Na fixação superficial, comum em diversas espécies (e.g., Loliginidae, Sepiidae, Ommastrephidae), a base dos espermatângios é aderida ao tecido-alvo aparentemente por meio do corpo cimentante, a partir de substâncias adesivas e, em alguns casos, estruturas de fixação. No implante profundo, comum em alguns grupos de lulas oceânicas e de águas profundas (e.g., Architeuthidae, Cranchiidae, Octopoteuthidae, Sepiolidae), os espermatóforos implantam-se inteiramente no corpo da fêmea, de forma autônoma. Permanece desconhecido o mecanismo responsável pelo implante profundo. Em Octopodiformes (polvos), o espermatóforo é inserido no gonoduto feminino, alcançando a glândula oviducal, onde estão localizadas as espermatecas, ou a cavidade do ovário. Como o funcionamento extracorpóreo dos espermatóforos depende exclusivamente da intrincada estrutura e organização de seus componentes (e.g., membranas e túnicas), somente investigações detalhadas dessas estruturas proverão as bases para a compreensão do funcionamento e da exata função do complexo espermatóforo dos coleóides. Recomenda-se o desenvolvimento de um protocolo simples e eficiente para coloração e preparação total de espermatóforos, de forma que seja possível expandir as descrições morfológicas do espermatóforo em estudos taxonômicos e anatômicos, permitindo, portanto, ampliação do conhecimento acerca desta enigmática estrutura
-
O enigma da "reação espermatofórica": breve síntese do conhecimento sobre a estrutura e o funcionamento dos espermatóforos dos cefalópodes (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, 2011Co-Authors: Marian, José Eduardo Amoroso RodriguezAbstract:Cefalópodes coleóides (lulas, sépias e polvos) produzem espermatóforos muito complexos que são transferidos à fêmea durante a cópula por meio do hectocótilo, um apêndice modificado nos machos. Durante a transferência à fêmea, ocorre a chamada "reação espermatofórica", complexo processo de evaginação do aparato ejaculatório do espermatóforo, que conduz à exteriorização da massa espermática e corpo cimentante. A presente revisão sintetiza o conhecimento acerca da morfologia e funcionamento desta estrutura exclusiva dos coleóides, identificando lacunas e definindo estratégias que possibilitem avanços na área. Poucos trabalhos abordam com detalhes a morfologia e anatomia funcional dos espermatóforos dos cefalópodes, grande parte do conhecimento acerca da estrutura do espermatóforo tendo sido gerada por trabalhos clássicos do século XIX e início do século XX. Investigações acerca do funcionamento dos espermatóforos são consideravelmente mais raras, estando o conhecimento básico sobre a reação espermatofórica restrito a apenas 19 espécies de coleóides. A revisão da literatura especializada permite sugerir que existem dois tipos básicos de fixação de espermatóforos em Decapodiformes (lulas e sepióides): fixação superficial e implante profundo (ou intra-dérmico). Na fixação superficial, comum em diversas espécies (e.g., Loliginidae, Sepiidae, Ommastrephidae), a base dos espermatângios é aderida ao tecido-alvo aparentemente por meio do corpo cimentante, a partir de substâncias adesivas e, em alguns casos, estruturas de fixação. No implante profundo, comum em alguns grupos de lulas oceânicas e de águas profundas (e.g., Architeuthidae, Cranchiidae, Octopoteuthidae, Sepiolidae), os espermatóforos implantam-se inteiramente no corpo da fêmea, de forma autônoma. Permanece desconhecido o mecanismo responsável pelo implante profundo. Em Octopodiformes (polvos), o espermatóforo é inserido no gonoduto feminino, alcançando a glândula oviducal, onde estão localizadas as espermatecas, ou a cavidade do ovário. Como o funcionamento extracorpóreo dos espermatóforos depende exclusivamente da intrincada estrutura e organização de seus componentes (e.g., membranas e túnicas), somente investigações detalhadas dessas estruturas proverão as bases para a compreensão do funcionamento e da exata função do complexo espermatóforo dos coleóides. Recomenda-se o desenvolvimento de um protocolo simples e eficiente para coloração e preparação total de espermatóforos, de forma que seja possível expandir as descrições morfológicas do espermatóforo em estudos taxonômicos e anatômicos, permitindo, portanto, ampliação do conhecimento acerca desta enigmática estrutura