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Posted by James Mahaffy on March 21, 2001 at 16:37:17:
In Reply to: Do female reptiles have a uterus? posted by Mark Dwight on March 13, 2001 at 01:42:37:
: Since reptile embyos are self contained and need no nutrients from the mother there seems no need for womb. However, without a uterus where are the developing embyos planted? Do they remain and develope in the oviducts? Are there any good works on reptile reproduction anyone here can point me to?
: Thank you,
: Mark Dwight
Mark,
Any creature (flukes, nematodes, snakes that stores fertilized eggs
for a bit in its body has a uterus. In some cases
the uterus is just an extension of the oviduct, but it is usually larger
and more muscular.
On the other hand a frog, crayfish or earthworm that]
does not fertilize the eggs internally does not have
a uterus. Any basic text in Zoology will give
you information on this (I use Hickman for the Zoology
class I teach). There are good dissection books
for many of these creatures, but snakes are not
usually studied in Comparative Chordate classes
so there are less manuals for them.
Hope that helps.
James Mahaffy, biology Dept., Dordt. College
