spermatophore

American  

[spur-mat-uh-fawr, -fohr, spur-muh-tuh-] / spɜrˈmæt əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, ˈspɜr mə tə- /

noun

Zoology.

1. a capsule surrounding a mass of spermatozoa, produced by the male of various animal species and transferred to the female.

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spermatophore British  

/ ˈspɜːmətəʊˌfɔː, ˌspɜːməˈtɒfərəl /

noun

1. a capsule of spermatozoa extruded by some molluscs, crustaceans, annelids, and amphibians

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spermatophore Scientific  

/ spər-măt′ə-fôr′ /

1. A capsule or compact mass of spermatozoa extruded by the males of certain invertebrates and primitive vertebrates and directly transferred to the reproductive parts of the female.

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Other Word Forms

• spermatophoral adjective
• spermatophorous adjective

Etymology

Origin of spermatophore

First recorded in 1840–50; spermato- + -phore

Example Sentences

If the female is receptive, the male deposits a spermatophore, or a packet of genetic material, on the bottom of the pond.

From Washington Times

But the researchers also found that this preference for larger females didn’t influence the males to impart any less of their spermatophore stores to the smaller, ‘hungrier’ females, and this suggested that by eating spermatophores, the smaller females might be able to produce higher numbers of healthier offspring than they could otherwise manage.

From Scientific American

But the researchers also found that this preference for larger females didn’t influence the males to impart any less than the usual 60% or so of their spermatophore stores to the smaller, ‘hungrier’ females, and this suggested that by eating spermatophores, the smaller females were able to produce higher numbers of healthier offspring than they could otherwise manage.

From Scientific American

The results have presented the scientists with a further mystery; since the spermatophore is transferred internally, it is not clear how the female uses the size of this gift to decide whether to mate with a male.

From BBC

Filled with dense titles, and even a fun one or two — "Anachronisitic fruits and the ghosts who haunt them" and "Mate choice in hermaphrodite: you won't score with a spermatophore" — they provide an insight into how a good natural-history writer takes science and makes it more accessible.

From Seattle Times