Date of Award
9-23-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Stanley Trauth
Committee Members
Jennifer Bouldin; Stanley Trauth; Tanja McKay
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2016 K63
Abstract
Spermatogenesis in ophidians is understudied, with little information on the rough greensnake, Opheodrys aestivus available. A cell wheel showing the chronological development of germ cell stages for this species was constructed. Sperm morphometrics were completed and compared with those of Nerodia rhombifer, the diamondback watersnake. Both species had similar sperm head length, while Opheodrys aestivus had significantly longer total sperm length. Total sperm length was positively correlated (r = 0.997, p < 0.001) with sperm tail length. Seminiferous tubule diameter and seminiferous tubule epithelial height were measured from Arkansas (AR) specimens and compared with those of Alabama (AL) specimens and AR measurements were found to be significantly greater in length. Future studies of O. aestivus need to investigate the testicular cycle in other parts of its geographic distribution to see if the monthly pattern is consistent and sperm morphometrics should be examined for other species within the family Colubridae.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Konvalina, John Douglas, "Sperm Morphometrics, Spermatogenesis, and Testicular Cycle of the Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus)" (2016). Student Theses and Dissertations. 646.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/646
