SPERM STRUCTURE OF THE BOWFIN, AMIA-CALVA L

The spermatozoon of the bowfin, Amia calva, is a unique structure with the presence of annulate lamellae, peripheral vesicles, and mitochond rial matrix granules. The two perpendicularly oriented centrioles lie at a distance from the nucleus without any visible connection to it. T he only similarities of the bowfin spermatozoon with the garfish, Lepi sosteus osseus, and primitive teleost spermatozoa are the lack of an a crosome and in its satellites from the distal centriole. The bowfin sp ermatozoon is of the primitive type according to Franzen and an ectaqu asperm in the terminology of Jamieson. Yet its structure differs marke dly from both that of the garfish and those of the teleosts.