Definitions for Hectocotylus
hec·to·coty·lus

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. hectocotylusnoun

   A modified arm of any of several male cephalopods that functions as a reproductive organ by transfering sperm to the mantle of the female

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Hectocotylus

   A hectocotylus (plural: hectocotyli) is one of the arms of male cephalopods that is specialized to store and transfer spermatophores to the female. Structurally, hectocotyli are muscular hydrostats. Depending on the species, the male may use it merely as a conduit to the female, analogously to a penis in other animals, or he may wrench it off and present it to the female. The hectocotyl arm was first described in Aristotle's biological works. Although Aristotle knew of its use in mating, he was doubtful that a tentacle could deliver sperm. The name hectocotylus was devised by Georges Cuvier, who first found one embedded in the mantle of a female argonaut. Supposing it to be a parasitic worm, in 1829 Cuvier gave it a generic name, combining the Greek word for "hundred" and Latin word for "hollow thing".

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Hectocotylusnoun

   one of the arms of the male of most kinds of cephalopods, which is specially modified in various ways to effect the fertilization of the eggs. In a special sense, the greatly modified arm of Argonauta and allied genera, which, after receiving the spermatophores, becomes detached from the male, and attaches itself to the female for reproductive purposes

2. Etymology: [NL., fr. Gr. a hundred + a hollow vessel.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Hectocotylus

   A hectocotylus is one of the arms of the male of most kinds of cephalopods that is modified in various ways to effect the fertilization of the female's eggs. It is a specialized, extended muscular hydrostat used to store spermatophores, the male gametophore. Depending on the species, the male may use it merely to store and transfer sperm to the female, or he may wrench it off and present it to the female. Males generally form a new hectocotylus in each new season. Among Decapodiformes, generally either one or both of arms IV are hectocotylized; in incirrate octopuses it is one of arm pair III. Many coleoids lack hectocotyli altogether. The shape of the tip of the hectocotylus has been much used in octopod systematics. In many species it is considerably elaborated. However, in the males of some species, such as the Seven-arm Octopus, the hectocotylus develops in an inconspicuous sac in front of the right eye that gives the male the appearance of having only seven arms. The term is also used to specifically refer to the greatly modified arm of Argonauta and allied genera. In argonauts, the male transfers the spermatophores to the female by putting its hectocotylus into a cavity in the mantle of the female. This mantle cavity is known as the pallial cavity. This is the only contact the male and female have with each other during copulation, and it can be at a distance. During copulation, the hectocotylus breaks off from the male. The funnel–mantle locking apparatus on the hectocotylus keeps it lodged in the pallial cavity of the female.

How to pronounce Hectocotylus?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

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   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

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   Fred

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   Tessa

   South African

How to say Hectocotylus in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Hectocotylus in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Hectocotylus in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Hectocotylus
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hectocotylus
3. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hectocotylus
4. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Hectocotylus