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Snake and Lizard Reproduction - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 14:07, 5 July 2012
, 14:07, 5 July 2012→Copulation
== Lizards (Squamata) ==
=== Male ===
<big><center>[[Exotics_-_Reptile_Reproductive_Anatomy_and_Physiology_-_Anatomy_%26_Physiology|'''BACK TO REPTILE REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY''']]</center></big>
[[Image:Reproductive Tract Male Lizard.jpg|thumb|right|150px|<p>Anatomy of the Male Lizard</p><sup> © L.Wilkie 2008</sup>]]
[[Image:Lateral Male Chameleon.jpg|thumb|right|150px|<p>Lateral View of the Male Chameleon</p><sup> © L.Wilkie 2008</sup>]]
==== Testes ====
= Lizards (Squamata) =
== Male ==
* Located cranial to the kidneys.
* Located cranial to the kidneys.
** Has its own testicular blood vessels.
** Has its own testicular blood vessels.
=== Phallus ===
==== Phallus ====
* Paired hemipenes
* Paired hemipenes
== Female ==
== Female ==
[[Image:Reproductive Tract Female Lizard.jpg|thumb|right|150px|<p>Anatomy of the Female Lizard</p><sup> © L.Wilkie 2008</sup>]]
[[Image:Ventral Female Lizard.jpg|thumb|right|150px|<p>Ventral View of the Female Lizard</p><sup> © L.Wilkie 2008</sup>]]
=== Ovary ===
=== Ovary ===
== Male ==
== Male ==
[[Image:Snake Anatomy male.png|thumb|right|150px|<p>Anatomy of the Male Snake: (1. Oesophagus 2. Trachea 3. Tracheal lungs 4. Rudimentary left lung 5. Right lung 6. Heart 7. Liver 8. Stomach 9. Air sac 10. Gallbladder 11. Pancreas 12. Spleen 13. Intestine 14. Testes 15. Kidneys )
</p><sup> ©RVC 2008</sup>]]
=== Testes ===
* Intra-abdominal
* Situated between the pancreas and the kidneys.
=== Phallus ===
* Two hemipenes
** Paired, sac-like extensions of the cloaca.
* Lie within the ventral tail base.
* Each hemipene has a retractor muscle that extends from the tail vertebrae to the tip and sides of the hemipene.
* Large glands lie above the hemipenes.
* Hemipene retractor muscle and anal glands are all surrounded by a larger propulsor muscle.
* When the hemipene is engorged with blood, the propulsor muscle contracts.
** Everts the hemipene.
* After engorgement has subsided, the retractor muscle contracts.
** Inverts the hemipene.
== Female ==
== Female ==
Female snakes can be oviparous, or viviparous.
=== Ovary ===
=== Ovary ===
* Paired
* Located asymmetrically near the pancreas.
* Right oovary usually larger and more cranial.
* Left ovary may be reduced or undeveloped.
=== Sperm Storage ===
=== Sperm Storage ===
* Some female snakes can store sperm in a cavity lined by mucosa glands near the top of the oviduct.
** Stored here until conditions are right.
* Can be stored for months or even years.
** Thus snakes may suddenly appear fertile in abscence of a male.
=== Maternal Behaviour ===
=== Maternal Behaviour ===
The '''Indian Python''' is the only reptile to exibit maternal behaviour. This can be achieved owing to her large body size.
* Generate a 7ºC increase in heat by spasmodic contractions of muscles as they coil around the eggs.
* Coil tightly around the egg mass to prevent heat loss from the eggs.
* Unlike mammalian shivering, the muscle contractions are coordinated.
* Metabolic rate of the mother increases 20-fold.
== Breeding Season ==
== Breeding Season ==
=== Temperate and Subtropical Species ===
=== Temperate and Subtropical Species ===
* Breeding season is in Spring.
=== Tropical Species ===
=== Tropical Species ===
* Breed at the start of the wet season.
** Ideal climate for egg incubation.
== Copulation ==
== Copulation ==
* Male initates courtship by moving his body over the female and rubbing his tail against her.
* If female is receptive, she dilates her cloaca and raises her tail.
* Copulation lasts 2-20 hours.
* During copulation one hemipene is evaginated and inserted into the female cloaca.
* Hemipene has spines and ridges that enable it to remain in the cloaca for a long period of time.
* Hemipene is withdrawn at the end of copulation by contraction of the retractor muscle.
* During multiple mating, the male can use the left and right hemipene alternately.
[[Category:Exotic Reproduction]]
[[Category:Bullet Points]]