spermatophore
English edit
Etymology edit
Noun edit
spermatophore (plural spermatophores)
- (biology) A spermospore.
- (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 edit
Translations edit
spermospore — see spermospore
capsule
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References edit
- “spermatophore”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
French edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
spermatophore m (plural spermatophores)
Further reading edit
- “spermatophore”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.