Simultaneous hermaphroditism in the marine shrimp Lysmata wurdemanni (Caridea: Hippolytidae): an undescribed sexual system in the decapod Crustacea |
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Authors: | R T Bauer G J Holt |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana 70504-2451, USA Fax: +318 482-5834 E-mail: rtbauer@usl.edu, US;(2) Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channelview Drive, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Simultaneous hermaphroditism with outcrossing, a previously unconfirmed sexual system in decapod crustaceans, is documented
in the shrimp Lysmata wurdemanni (Gibbes), using time-lapse video observations on mating in pairs of “female-phase” (FP) individuals. Copulations between
FPs resulted in successful spawning and development of embryos. However, female-phase hermaphrodites maintained in isolation
were unable to self-fertilize spawned eggs. All smaller individuals possessed characters typical of caridean males, including
male gonopores, appendices masculinae, ejaculatory ducts, and cincinnuli on the first pleopods. However, the gonad of these
male-phase (MP) individuals was an ovotestis with an undeveloped ovarian portion. FPs, which spawn eggs and incubate embryos,
also had male gonopores and an ovotestis terminating in ejaculatory ducts containing sperm. In FPs, male pleopod characters
were absent or reduced, and a female incubatory character, expanded pleopod flanges, showed a greater relative size. Smaller
size classes of the population were composed only of MPs while larger size classes consisted of both MPs and FPs. “Transitionals,”
individuals with MP characters but an ovotestis containing vitellogenic oocytes, were rare and overlapped completely in size
with FP and larger MP individuals. It is suggested that not all MPs transform into FP hermaphrodites. Social interactions
may mediate MP change into FP hermaphrodites in L. wurdemanni. The social system of L. wurdemanni and other Lysmata spp. may determine the exact form of the sexual system in these species.
Received: 26 October 1997 / Accepted: 21 April 1998 |
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