Definitions

Spermatheca

• A sperm reservoir inside the female oviduct, with an opening to the cuticular organ. [Wilson, 1989]
• Pouch in oviduct of females for reception and retention of spermatozoa. [Moore and McCormick, 1969]
• See seminal receptacle. [McLaughlin, 1980]
• (Taxon-specific: Order Monhysterida) Seminal receptacle. [Stachowitsch, 1992]
• In female, modification of ventral surface (sternite) of last thoracic somite as sperm storage organ. [Stachowitsch, 1992]

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Citing this glossary: For individual definitions, please cite the specific author(s) of the definition.
To cite the glossary as a whole, please use:
Martin, J.W., N.D. Pentcheff, D. Striley, C. Perrodin, A.R. Wall, J. Wall, and J. Zieba (editors). Crustacea Glossary. Crustacea Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Accessed: 3 Nov 2025. URL: https://research.nhm.org/glossary