spermatophore

English

Etymology

From spermato- +‎ -phore.

Noun

spermatophore (plural spermatophores)

1. (biology) A spermospore.
2. (zoology) A capsule or pocket enclosing a number of spermatozoa, found in many annelids, brachiopods, insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.
   • 1910 June 20, Gilman A. Drew, “Sexual Activities of the Squid, Loligo pealii (Les.). I. Copulation, Egg-laying and Fertilization”, in Journal of Morphology, volume 22, number 2, Philadelphia, Pa.: Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, published 1911, page 334:

     The spermatophores begin to ejaculate immediately after leaving the penis and the whole process is completed in a very few seconds. Pulling the filament attached to the ejaculatory end of a spermatophore is all that is needed to start its ejaculation.

Related terms

• hemispermatophore
• spermatophoral
• spermatophorous

Translations

spermospore — see spermospore

capsule

• Finnish: siittiökotelo, spermatofori (fi)

References

• “spermatophore”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spɛʁ.ma.to.fɔʁ/

Noun

spermatophore m (plural spermatophores)

1. spermatophore

Further reading

• “spermatophore”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.