The aim of this study was to give reference values for the frequency of morphological sperm abnormalities present in the semen from non-experimental cynomolgus monkeys as well as for the dimensions of sperm heads. Spermatozoa from the liquid portion of electroejaculates from 14 cynomolgus monkeys were air-dried as smears, fixed, and stained with Harris's Haematoxylin and subjected to visual analysis of morphology and computer-aided analysis of ten morphometric variables. The majority (83%) of sperm were morphologically normal. Tail defects were the most common (11%), and showed the highest variation between individuals, the values ranging between 4 and 23%. Head abnormalities consisted of large, tapering, and amorphous forms but were not frequent (0.4%), the values ranging between 0 and 1.3%. Midpiece imperfections were found in all the individuals; the mean percentage was 5%, and the range varied between 3 and 9%. Tail plus midpiece was the only multiple abnormality observed, with a mean value of 1.5% and a range between 0 and 8%. The majority of these double defects consisted of a coiled tail together with a coiled midpiece. Mean values for the morphometric parameters characterizing sperm heads were as follows: area 17.2 microm2, perimeter 15.2 microm, length 5.8 microm, width 4.0 microm, L/W ratio 1.5, gray-level 98, ellipticity 0.2, first shape factor 0.9, second shape factor 1.4, and third shape factor 1.1. Overall coefficients of variation for the majority of parameters were below 7%, showing the great homogeneity in the dimensions of cynomolgus sperm heads. Most useful parameters for sperm characterization, according to their low variability, were perimeter, length, width, L/W ratio, and shape factors. Differences in these parameters were, however, observed between monkeys.