284 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



V. Male Reproductive System 



The various species of Branchiobdellidae depart but slightly from 

 a basic organization of the reproductive organs. The function of 

 producing spermatozoa and collecting and conveymg them to the 

 exterior is accomplished by the same organs and structures m all 

 members of the family, although the individual parts of the system 

 are subject to variations which, when considered collectively, afford 

 a fair opportunity for systematic diversification. The genital systems 

 of species in the genera BdeUodrilus (Moore, 189ob), Xironogiton 

 and Camhanncola (Holt, 1949), and Ceratodrilus and Ellisodrilus 

 (Holt, 1960a, 1960b) have akeady been elucidated in print. The 

 treatment of Ceratodnlus is of particular interest in providing a 

 standardized and morphologically correct terminology to replace 

 the various haphazard names which have been used or misused by 

 previous workers. The following termmology is that developed by 

 Holt (1960a). The sequence of the reproductive organs proceeds in 

 order from the testes outward. Reference may profitably be made 

 to the accompanying diagi-ammatic representation (figs. 1 and 2) of 

 the arrangement. 



Figure 1. — Diagrammatic representation of the organs, other parts, and nomenclature of 

 the reproductive systems in Cambarincola. (For explanation of abbreviations see 

 figs. 2-5, p. 288.) 



