Re: Do female reptiles have a uterus?

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: : 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

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