Moya, J., Mancini, K., Lino-Neto, J., Delabie, J. and Dolder, H. 2007. Sperm ultrastructure of five species of the Neotropical ant genus Pseudomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 88 : 181-187The seminal vesicles of adult males of five species of Pseudomyrmex were prepared for light and transmission electron microscopy. The Pseudomyrmex spermatozoa are long and slender with similar morphology. The head region has an acrosome and a nucleus. In all the studied species, two morphologically distinct types of acrosomal vesicles were observed, a long structure, as observed in all known ants, and a pear-shaped one, never before observed in ants. The nucleus is elongated and both condensed and loose chromatin are present. The flagellum has an axoneme, a centriolar adjunct, two mitochondrial derivatives and two accessory bodies. The centriolar, the mitochondrial derivatives and the accessory bodies are similar to observations in most ant species that have been studied. The axoneme presents an uncommon 9 + 9 + 1 microtubule arrangement and the central microtubule has 13 protofilaments. The acrosomal dimorphism and the different levels of chromatin organization are exclusive characteristics of Pseudomyrmex . Furthermore, the 9 + 9 + 1 microtubule arrangement is different from all Hymenoptera, as well as from most insects, which present a 9 + 9 + 2 arrangement. These new morphological characters that are specific to Pseudomyrmex , are valuable synapomorphies of the genus and can be used in taxonomic characterization of the Pseudomyrmecinae subfamily and in phylogenetic analyses in Formicidae family.

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Nunca é demais dizer "Obrigada". Obrigada Senhor pelos dias de estudo e pelas noites tranqüilas de descanso. Por estar ao meu lado, iluminando meu caminho. Pelas vitórias, pelas dificuldades que consegui vencer. Pelas pessoas maravilhosas que cruzaram o meu caminho e me ajudaram a construir a pessoa que sou.Às minhas orientadoras maravilhosas, Profa. Dra. Mary Anne Heidi Dolder e Profa. Dra. Karina Mancini, pelo convívio e amizade desde a minha iniciação científica. Por terem me acolhido no laboratório com tanto carinho e atenção e por terem me proporcionado um ambiente de descobertas e de amadurecimento intelectual e pessoal. Pelos ensinamentos, incentivo, paciência, compreensão, disponibilidade, críticas e sugestões durante a execução desse trabalho.