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Femoral glands of the lizard, Crotaphytus collaris
Author(s) -
Cole Charles J.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051180108
Subject(s) - biology , lizard , stratum corneum , anatomy , zoology , genetics
The anatomy of the femoral glands in an iguanid lizard, Crotaphytus collaris collaris (Say), is described. The 48 lizards (including three embryos) from which glands were examined were obtained throughout their season of activity at one locality in Kansas. In animals of both sexes the glands lie in a linear series on the ventral aspect of each thigh. They are composed of branching tubes and tubules of epidermal and dermal origin. The row of femoral pores is the only external manifestation of the glands. Post hatching, the glands of males increase in size and complexity; little onto‐genetic change occurs in the glands of females. The relative length of the glands appears to vary seasonally in adult males suggesting variation in their activity. The greatest relative sizes occur in the breeding season. At times a stratum corneum , continuous with the stratum corneum of the skin, occurs in the duct of the gland internal to part of the secretion plug. Formation of the stratum corneum seems to be initiated in the autumn prior to hibernation, and the stratum corneum removes the outer part of the secretion plug in the next ecdysis; meanwhile, production of a new secretion plug is initiated. The anatomy of the femoral glands in Crotaphytus is similar to that of the described glands of other species of lizards.