Sex in southern african spirostreptida millipedes : mechanisms of sperm competition and cryptic female choice
Spirostreptida millipedes comprise three families, the Harpagophoridae, Spirostreptidae and Odontopygidae. They are polygynandrous. Males transfer sperm via species-specific accessory genitalia called gonopods, that comprise three components, two of which, the emote and telopodite, are involved in processes of sperm transfer. The emotes function to translocate ejaculates from the penes to the vulvae, where they are stored. A delay between insemination and fertilisation provides an arena for syn- and postcopulatory sexual competition. These operate at the gametic level via sperm competition and cryptic female choice. By combining studies of genital form and function with single and double mating experiments, this study elucidates these processes in some southern African Spirostreptida millipedes.
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