Ultrastructure of Dark Chub Zacco temmincki (Cyprinidae) Spermatozoa

Mature spermatozoa of dark chub Zacco temmincki (Temminck and Schlegel), were examined under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The spermatozoa have a spherical, homogeneously electron-dense nucleus with an axial nuclear fossa containing two laterally oriented centrioles. The centrioles, which are arranged at about a $120^{\circ}$ angle to each other, have the 9+2 microtubule structure typical of flagella. The mature spermatozoon is of the primitive anacrosomal aquasperm type. The nuclear envelope is strongly undulated and contains nuclear vacuoles of different sizes and positions. The midpiece contains six or more mitochondria and encircles the basal body of the flagellum with an axoneme covered by the plasma membrane. Cytoplasmic vesicles lie between the axonemal doublets and the plasma membrane, and encircle the anterior part of the tail. The plasma membrane of the flagellum extends laterally and forms a pair of side fins. The species showed minor differences in number and structure of mitochondria, the angle between centrioles, and total length and occurrence of the fins. These characters, especially the side fins, appear to be apomorphic and useful for determining phylogenetic relationships at the genus or family level.