The Anatomy of Chlamydoselachus 



451 



MYXOPTERYGIA OR CLASPERS 



The superficial appearance of the intromittent organs or so'called claspers of the male 

 Chlamydoselachus is illustrated in Figure 20, plate V, after Giinther; Text-figures 95 to 

 97, after Leigh'Sharpe. The skeletal anatomy has been discussed in the section on the 

 endoskeleton, and is illustrated by Text-figure 46, p. 375, after Braus; Text-figure 47, P- 

 377, after Giinther; Figure 21, plate V, after Goodey; and Text-figure 115a (p. 472), 

 after Leigh-Sharpe. The muscles of the claspers have been considered in the section on 

 the muscular system, and are illustrated by Figures 22 and 23, plate V, after Goodey, 

 also by Text-figure 115b (p. 472), after Leigh-Sharpe. The peculiar blood vessels of the 

 claspers are described in the section on the blood-vascular system. The present account 

 deals with the general form and structure of the claspers, together with some inferences 

 as to the manner in which they function. 



As an introduction to the study of the claspers I can do no better than to quote the 

 following from Leigh-Sharpe (1920, pp. 245-246): 



Text-figure 95. 



Ventral view of the pelvic region of 



a male Chlamydoselachus, showing myx- 



opterygia or claspers. 



Cav., projection of cavity. 

 After Leigh-Sharpe, 1926, Fig. 1, p. 308. 



CLGr. 



Text-figure 96. 



Ventral view of the pelvic region of a male 



Chlamydoselachus with claspers anteroflexed as 



in copula: A, with the clasper groove closed; 



B, with the clasper groove forced open. 



Ap., apopyle; Cav., cavity; Ci.Gr., clasper groove; H., 



hypopyle. 



After Leigh-Sharpe, 1926, Fig. 2, p. 309. 



