Sperm morphology in two cryptic species of the genus Salamandrella (Caudata: Hynobiidae)

Abstract

We conducted a light microscopy study of the sperm morphology in two species of salamanders of the genus Salamandrella. We analysed the acrosome length, width, length and volume of the head, tail and total sperm lengths. Via canonical and factor analyses, we compared sperm morphology in males of S. keyserlingii from southeast of Western Siberia and northeast of Asia and in males of S. tridactyla from south of Russian Far East. Both analyses showed a high degree of similarity of sperm parameters in the individual, population and species levels. The absence of marked interspecific differences in sperm morphology between these species is consistent with literature data on the possibility of interspecific hybridisation in laboratory and natural conditions. Refs 36. Figs 4. Tables 4.