ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF SPERMATOZOA IN SOME AFRICAN MURINES (RODENTIA, MURIDAE) - THE TAXONOMIC AND PHYLOGENETIC ASPECTS

A comparative analysis of sperm-head morphology and measurements in 17 species from nine genera of African Murinae: Rattus rattus, Mastomys coucha, M. huberti, M. erythroleucus, Mastomys sp. 2, Praomys albipes, P. fumatus, Mus mahomet, Arvicanthis somalicus, A. abyssinicus, A. de mbeensis, Arvicanthis sp., Lemniscomys macculus, Pelomys harringtoni, Acomys cahirinus, Acomys sp., Uranomys ruddi, was carried out. Spermat ozoa of all examined species are of the same basic type. They consist of an asymmetrical head, falciform or scythelike in shape, and a tail attached to the ventrocaudal surface of the head. There are great inte rspecific differences in sperm morphology and size. The significance o f this variation for estimation of taxonomic aspects and phylogenetic relationships among the species, as well as between them and other gro ups, is discussed. The sperm morphology supports a close evolutionary relationship among the genera Lemniscomys and Arvicanthis. It also ind icates that Pelomys is distinctive. The relationships between Acomys a nd Uranomys are discussed.