Oviductal Sperm Storage in the Ground Skink Scincella laterale Holbrook (Reptilia: Scincidae)
DAVID M. SEVER1 AND WILLIAM A. HOPKINS2
1 Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame,
Indiana
2University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory,
Aiken, South Carolina
ABSTRACT The reproductive tracts of female ground skinks,
Scincella laterale, collected at various times throughout their
reproductive cycle were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy.
Examination of the tracts revealed that sperm are retained in the posterior
vagina after mating but prior to the ovulation of oocytes. The sperm are
not sequestered in specialized glands but occur in scattered clusters
in the lumen or among the deep, narrow rugae. The simple columnar lining
of the vagina consists mostly of ciliated cells interspersed with occasional
secretory cells. After ovulation, as indicated by the presence of eggs
in the uterus, sperm are not found in the vagina. No sperm or sperm storage
tubules occur in the infundibulum, the characteristic location for sperm
storage in scleroglossid squamates that have been studied. Our results
are a further indication that too few species have been examined to construct
a rigorous phylogenetic hypothesis about the occurrence of sperm storage
tubules in lizards.
SREL Reprint #2771
Sever, D. M. and W. A. Hopkins. 2004. Oviductal sperm storage in the ground skink scincella laterale holbrook (Reptilia: scincidae). Journal of Experimental Zoology 301A:599-611.
