Dictionary

allosperm en · NOUN

Etymology

From allo- + sperm.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Sperm that has been received from another organism.
   • This is consistent with theory that predicts a preference for the female mating role after periods of sexual isolation because of allosperm depletion. 2010, Nils Anthes, Peter M. Kappeler, Ralph Bergmüller, Animal Behaviour: Evolution and Mechanisms, →ISBN, page 340:
   • The latter have a well-defined allosperm storage organ, called spermatheca, attached to their fertilization pouch (Baur, this book). 2010, Janet Leonard, Alex Cordoba-Aguilar, The Evolution of Primary Sexual Characters in Animals, →ISBN, page 176:
   • They seem to have mechanisms that favour fertilization by allosperm (donated by a partner) over autosperm (produced endogenously). 2000, Robert T. Dillon, The Ecology of Freshwater Molluscs, →ISBN, page 80:
   • During copulation, the penis deposits the autosperm (which now become allosperm) into the vaginal channel of the distal hermaphroditic duct of another animal. The allosperm then travel to the spermatotheca. 2011, Gregory A. Lewbart, Invertebrate Medicine, →ISBN, page 101:

Forms

Relateds

autosperm