A comparative analysis of female genitalia of seven Old World snakes using a recently proposed technique
The diversity of genitalia has long intrigued evolutionary and functional morphology scientists, with a primary focus on male copulatory organs. Despite extensive studies on snake genitalia, particularly hemipenes, female copulatory organs remain understudied. This research aims to fill this gap by...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Firenze University Press
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Acta Herpetologica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/view/16881 |
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| Summary: | The diversity of genitalia has long intrigued evolutionary and functional morphology scientists, with a primary focus on male copulatory organs. Despite extensive studies on snake genitalia, particularly hemipenes, female copulatory organs remain understudied. This research aims to fill this gap by using a recently introduced methodology for preparation with a few adjustments, and by describing female snake genitalia for seven previously undescribed species. The methodology is based on employing a two-component condensation silicone into snakes’ genitalia to create internal models for intersexual comparative morphology. We conducted a comprehensive examination of seven Old World snake species - Boidae: Eryx jaculus, Colubridae: Dolichophis caspius, Zamenis longissimus, Elaphe quatuorlineata, Coronella austriaca, and Viperidae: Vipera ammodytes, and V. berus. Our results reveal conspicuous variations in female genitalia morphology, speculating that there is also a significant variation in copulation adjustment between the different types of species’ genitalia.
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| ISSN: | 1827-9635 1827-9643 |