Reproductive maturity and sexual dimorphism of a population of Amerotyphlops brongersmianus from a Restinga area in southeastern Brazil (Serpentes: Typhlopidae)
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Published:2023-03-08
Issue:10
Volume:306
Page:2610-2620
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ISSN:1932-8486
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Container-title:The Anatomical Record
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language:en
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Short-container-title:The Anatomical Record
Author:
Khouri Rebeca Stella123ORCID,
Almeida‐Santos Selma Maria2ORCID,
Fernandes Daniel Silva13
Affiliation:
1. Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro RJ Brazil
2. Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução Instituto Butantan São Paulo Brazil
3. Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro RJ Brazil
Abstract
AbstractNatural history data are important for a better understanding of distinct aspects of snake biology, and this information in scarce on Scolecophidia. Here we focus on sexual maturity and sexual dimorphism within a population of Amerotyphlops brongersmianus from the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The smallest sexually active male and female showed snout‐vent length of 117.5 and 158.4 mm, respectively. Females had statistically significant larger body and head length sizes, whereas males had longer tails. Juveniles showed no sexual dimorphism for any analyzed feature. Secondary vitellogenic follicles had a more opaque, yellowish/darker aspect, being larger than 3.5 mm. We reinforce that in addition to traditional features for determining sexual maturity, morphological and histological characteristics of kidneys should be evaluated in males, as well as the morphology of the infundibulum in females. Histological data show development of seminiferous tubules and presence of spermatozoa in males, and infundibulum receptacles and uterine glands in females as a sign of sexual maturity. This type of information is essential for a more accurate description of data on sexual maturity, allowing access to information on the development of reproductive structures that are not available macroscopically.
Funder
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Gans Collections and Charitable Fund
Subject
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics,Histology,Biotechnology,Anatomy
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