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Sperm‐storage glands in a passerine: the zebra finch Poephila guttata (Estrildidae)
Author(s) -
Birkhead T. R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1987.tb05117.x
Subject(s) - passerine , biology , zebra finch , sperm , zoology , taeniopygia , anatomy , vagina , botany , neuroscience
Sperm‐storage glands in the zebra finch are described; the first passerine for which such information is available. Sperm‐storage glands occurred only in paired females, and were located in folds throughout the vagina and on the vaginal side of the utcro‐vaginal region. Mean dimensions of the glands were: internal diameter 17·5 μm and length 254 μm; these values are similar to those found for two other (much larger) bird species. The need for passerines to possess sperm‐storage glands is discussed.