A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE FOOD EGGS OF FASCIOLARIA TULIPA AND THE APYRENE SPERMATOZOA OF PROSOBRANCH MOLLUSCS

Abstract

Out of the 600-800 eggs laid in a single capsule, only a few develop. The non-developing food eggs may make an abortive attempt at maturation. The chromosomes later degenerate. Because of this failure of maturation, it is suggested that these non-developing eggs are similar to apyrene spermatozoa. Other prosobranch eggs, such as Buccinum, Purpura, and Paludina, which progress farther in development, are considered similar to oligo-pyrene spermatozoa.