MALE REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY OF VITRELEDONELLA (CEPHALOPODA, OCTOPODA)

The hectocotylus and the internal reproductive anatomy of a nearly mat ure male specimen of Vitreledonella richardi Joubin, 1918, are describ ed. Distally, the third left arm carries a spermatophore groove, a ven trally open spherical structure and an elongate arm tip. Notable among the internal reproductive organs are the large ampulla and the elonga te accessory gland. Incomplete reports of the few specimens have limit ed our knowledge of Vitreledonella and other groups of mid-water octop ods. Critical to advancing our knowledge is sharing data derived from the few available specimens.