Giant females and dwarf males: a comparative study of nuptial organs in female Chondracanthidae (Crustacea : Copepoda)

Male chondracanthids attach to specific structures located near the genital apertures of the female and the term nuptial organ is proposed for these structures. The morphology of the nuptial organ in Acanthochondria cornuta, A. limandae, Acanthochondrites annulatus, Blias prionoti, Chondracanthodes deflexus, Chondracanthus lophii, Lernentoma asellina and Pseudoblias lyrifera is described. Nuptial organs in C. lophii contain glandular tissue and appear capable of producing a secretion. In addition to providing a site for male attachment these organs may have other possible functions, which are discussed