Difference between revisions of "Lizard Reproductive System"
| (7 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{unfinished}} |
| − | [[Image:Male_pores.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Male with visible femoral pores''' ( | + | [[Image:Male_pores.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Male with visible femoral pores''' (© RVC and its licensors, Sean Bobbit, Sue Evans, Andrew Devare and Claire Moore. All rights reserved)]] |
| − | [[Image:Female_lizard.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Female lizard''' ( | + | [[Image:Female_lizard.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Female lizard''' (© RVC and its licensors, Sean Bobbit, Sue Evans, Andrew Devare and Claire Moore. All rights reserved)]] |
==Male== | ==Male== | ||
| − | Male lizards have paired | + | Male lizards have paired hemipenes that are sac-like and lack erectile tissue. They are stored, inverted, in the base of the tail and may produce bulges in the ventral proximal tail. Only one is used at a time during copulation and it is not involved in urination. The testicles increase in size during the breeding season. |
| − | A row of femoral pores can be seen on the medial aspect of the thigh in many families of lizard. The waxy secretion of cellular debris produced is thought by some to have territorial scent marking significance and by others to prevent the male sliding on the belly of the female during coitus (see also | + | A row of femoral pores can be seen on the medial aspect of the thigh in many families of lizard. The waxy secretion of cellular debris produced is thought by some to have territorial scent marking significance and by others to prevent the male sliding on the belly of the female during coitus (see also preanal pore). |
| − | Mature adult male iguanas have taller dorsal spines than females, as well as larger dewlaps and operculum scales. Elaborate head ornamentation (horns, | + | Mature adult male iguanas have taller dorsal spines than females, as well as larger dewlaps and operculum scales. Elaborate head ornamentation (horns, crests and plates) can be seen in adult male chameleons but not in females. Generally, for most lizard species, males are larger than their female counterparts or have larger heads, bigger crests, brighter colours, or erectable dewlaps. |
| − | * '''For information on Hemipenal abscesses, see | + | * '''For information on Hemipenal abscesses, see [[Lizard Hemipenal Abscesses|'''Lizard Hemipenal Abscesses''']] page.''' |
==Female== | ==Female== | ||
| − | Females have paired ovaries and oviducts, which enter into the urodeum of the | + | Females have paired ovaries and oviducts, which enter into the urodeum of the cloaca. The oviduct is divided into four regions: infundibulum; magnus (secretes albumin); uterus (secretes membrane); and vagina. Dystocia is common and may be pre-ovulatory or post-ovulatory. Fertilization is internal. |
| − | '''For information on sexing | + | '''For information on lizard sexing, see [[Lizard Physical Examination|'''Lizard Physical Examination''']] page.''' |
| − | '''For information on dystocia | + | '''For information on lizard dystocia, see [[Lizard and Snake Dystocia|'''Lizard and Snake Dystocia''']] page.''' |
==References== | ==References== | ||
| + | |||
* Mader, D.R. (2005). ''Reptile Medicine and Surgery''. Saunders. pp. 1264. ISBN 072169327X | * Mader, D.R. (2005). ''Reptile Medicine and Surgery''. Saunders. pp. 1264. ISBN 072169327X | ||
[[Category:Lizard_Anatomy|R]] | [[Category:Lizard_Anatomy|R]] | ||
Revision as of 13:14, 11 March 2010
 |
This article is still under construction. |
Male
Male lizards have paired hemipenes that are sac-like and lack erectile tissue. They are stored, inverted, in the base of the tail and may produce bulges in the ventral proximal tail. Only one is used at a time during copulation and it is not involved in urination. The testicles increase in size during the breeding season.
A row of femoral pores can be seen on the medial aspect of the thigh in many families of lizard. The waxy secretion of cellular debris produced is thought by some to have territorial scent marking significance and by others to prevent the male sliding on the belly of the female during coitus (see also preanal pore).
Mature adult male iguanas have taller dorsal spines than females, as well as larger dewlaps and operculum scales. Elaborate head ornamentation (horns, crests and plates) can be seen in adult male chameleons but not in females. Generally, for most lizard species, males are larger than their female counterparts or have larger heads, bigger crests, brighter colours, or erectable dewlaps.
- For information on Hemipenal abscesses, see Lizard Hemipenal Abscesses page.
Female
Females have paired ovaries and oviducts, which enter into the urodeum of the cloaca. The oviduct is divided into four regions: infundibulum; magnus (secretes albumin); uterus (secretes membrane); and vagina. Dystocia is common and may be pre-ovulatory or post-ovulatory. Fertilization is internal.
For information on lizard sexing, see Lizard Physical Examination page.
For information on lizard dystocia, see Lizard and Snake Dystocia page.
References
- Mader, D.R. (2005). Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Saunders. pp. 1264. ISBN 072169327X