| Spermiogenesis and spermatozoa in six genera of the African family Alestidae plus the Neotropical genus Chalceusare described. Spermiogenesis is quite similar in all Alestidae and is identified as Type I and its variants. In Type I spermiogenesis, the flagellum of earliest spermatids lies lateral to the nucleus, and rotation of the nucleus towards the centriolar complex is observed. Nuclear rotation is complete reaching 90 degrees in Bryconalestes longipinnis, Brachypetersius altus, Brycinus imberi, B. lateralis, and Alestopetersius compressus; and is incomplete reaching 20 degrees in Micralestes acutidensand Rhabdalestesrhodesiensis. Spermatozoa morphology varies from a medial nucleus with fibrillar chromatin in the most basal genus Brycinusto a strongly... |
