spermatophore

English

Etymology

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.

Translations

References

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /spɛʁ.ma.to.fɔʁ/

Noun

spermatophore m (plural spermatophores)

  1. spermatophore

Further reading

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