Rain On The Parade: Reproduction And Gender Relation

Roberta Ferreira Abecassis, Alfredo P. Santos-Jr, Lucas Vinicius Cavalcante Esteves, Advanio Inácio Siqueira-Silva, Selma Maria Almeida-Santos & Síria Ribeiro have made a study into the Brazilian amphisbaenian Amphisbaena brasiliana (Gray, 1865).

Amphisbaenia are legless lizards that look more like snakes. Their bodies are long and wrapped in circular scales and skin. They have a skull that is solid bone and sharp teeth. Eyes on the skull are sunken deep and ears are pits. Carnivorous tendencies are shown in their burrowing behaviour by hunting ants and cockroaches underground.

Geographic location of the Amphisbaena brasiliana sample in the municipality of Santarém, Pará state, Brazil. In the upper right part, a live specimen of A. brasiliana.

143 live-specimens were studied at the University of Amazonia, Santarém in Brazil. This was between 1999 and 2021. There weren't any significant differences between male and female size but the latter were large in length. Precipitation didn't play a part of the egg/follicle size but it did with the testicular volume and the diameter of the duct that transfers sperm for ejaculation.

Lower rainfall and later months (August to December) was closely related to the number/size increase. Seasonal changes are instrumental in the reproductive cycle of these creatures. Although, only one female was recorded as having eggs in December. Subsequently, it is difficult to determine clutch sizes or accurate interpretation of the cycle.

Relationship between A. the volume of testes, B. medial ductus deferens and C. distal ductus deferens of adult males from a population of Amphisbaena brasiliana and rainfall in the region of Santarém, Pará state, Brazil.

There can only be an educational hint at the characteristics of the cycle, by way of maturity and stage of their reproductive process. Evidence of follicles being present and oviduct conditions back up this claim. The intake of protein in the drier months aims to spur on this process.

Further studies are required to truly understand this species' reproduction cycle influenced by environmental factors. A larger sample will help to do this and safeguard the existence of these fascinating creatures.