Ultrastructure of Spermatozoa of the Light Bullhead Leiocassis nitidus (Teleostei, Siluriformes, Bagridae)

The spermatozoa of Leiocassis nitidus are relatively simple cells composed of a spherical head, a short midpiece, and a tail, as in most Siluriformes. The ultrastructure is characterized by the following features: Acrosome absent, as in most teleosts; around nucleus about $1.8\;{\mu}m$ long, with a deep nuclear fossa containing the proximal and distal centrioles and mitochondria. Two centrioles approximately $180^{\circ}$ from each other; 10 or more mitochondria surrounding the axoneme (with a 9+2 microtubular pattern), arranged in two layers in the postnuclear cytoplasm and separated from the axoneme by the cytoplasmic canal. Two lateral fins on the same plane as the two central microtubules; doublets 3 and 8, which are ultrastructural characteristics of the sperma tail unlike other siluroids laking the lateral fins.