spermatophore en · NOUN
Etymology
From spermato- + -phore.
Meanings
- A spermospore.
-
A capsule or pocket enclosing a number of spermatozoa, found in many annelids, brachiopods, insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.
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.
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:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| spermatophores | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
hemispermatophore · spermatophorous · spermatophoral · pseudospermatophore
Translations (3)
fi spermatofori (capsule) · fi siittiökotelo (capsule) · ca espermatòfor (capsule)