Male genital organs of the black-crowned dwarf marmoset (Callibella humilis)

Abstract

This study provides the first morphological description of the male genital organs of black-crowned dwarf marmoset (Callibella humilis). Internal and external genital organs were similar to other species of non-human primates. However, some shape and size differences were noted. The penile shaft was laterally flattened and comprised of two corpus cavernosus. These were split by a septum up to the level of the glans and then merged to form a single structure. The glans penis had small, keratinized spicules arising from epidermal or dermal projections. The small, fully ossified and well-mineralized penile bone, located at the distal end of the penis, consisted of a bone matrix surrounded by sparse osteoblasts and well-developed internal osteocytes. The penile urethra was lined with columnar pseudostratified epithelium, with areas of simple cuboidal epithelium. The testes were small relative to the body compared to other primate species. The findings of this work may support comparative studies of primate reproductive ecology.

Keywords: Amazon; Callitrichidae; Platyrrhini; morphology; neotropical primates; reproduction.