Testicular cycle of Amphisbaena mertensii Strauch, 1881 (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) in northeastern Argentina

AGUIRRE, FERNANDO; ORTIZ, MARTÍN; HERNANDO, ALEJANDRA

Herpetology Notes

Societas Europaea Herpetologica (SEH)

Año: 2017

2071-5773

We studied the testicular cycle of Amphisbaena mertensii (Strauch, 1881)from northeastern Argentina. We analyzed the morphology and histology of testesand epididymis of 3 juvenile males and 13 adult males preserved in the herpetological collection of the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste.Spermatogenesis began in mid-autumn and peaked in spring, when the seminiferoustubules and epididymes showed abundant spermatozoa in the lumen, and theepididymal epithelium showed signs of secretory activity of mucopolysaccharides(positive PAS reaction). Testicular regression occurs from mid-summer tomid-autumn. Our results indicate that A.mertensii display a seasonal testicular cycle beginning in autumn andfinishing in spring.