Sperm Morphology of Some Indian Frogs as Revealed by SEM

Abstract

The size and shape of 15 species of frogs (Ranidae and Rhacophoridae) from southwestern India were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Most species of the genus Rana had spermatozoa of a typical form, with a thick sperm head and a thin tail. In contrast, Rana beddomii had long spermatozoa with a slender and densely coiled sperm head and a thick tail, suggesting the validity of the genus Indirana. The sperm head of Nyctibatrachus major was thick and very loosely coiled. Differing from Rhacophorus species from east Asia, the sperm head of Rh. malabaricus was not coiled. Polypedates maculatus had very long thread-like spermatozoa as in Rh. malabaricus. Spermatozoa of all examined species of the genus Philautus had a crescent-like sperm head and a thin tail resembling the head and tail of the genus Chirixalus.