Journal of Endocrinology and Reproduction

O. V. Oommen ¹, M. Smita ¹, R. S. Beyo ¹, M. G. Jancy ², R. Girija ², M. A. Akbarsha ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, 695 581, Thiruvananthapuram, IN
2 Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Thinjchirappalli- 620 024, IN

Abstract

Caecilians, of the order Gymnophiona in the Lissamphibia, are circumtropically distributed across most moist tropical regions of the world. Gymnophiona are among the least understood terrestrial vertebrates and have received lesser attention than the other two orders of lissamphibians, the Urodela and Anura. Spermiogenesis, known as spermateleosis in lower vertebrates, is the transformation of the round spermatid into a highly specialized spermatozoon with a species-specific structure. Spermateleosis and sperm morphology of two species of caecilians, Ichthyophis tricolor and Uraeotyphlus cf. narayani, from the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The cyst morphology is described in ten steps. We also report the sperm transporting course in this enigmatic amphibian in addition to localizing sperm in the kidney. This confirms the transport of sperm through the kidney.

Keywords

Amelwid Cells, Caecilians, Connective Tissue Strand, Cyst, Sertoli Cells, Spermatids, Spermatozoa, Sperm Transport.

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M. Smita ¹, O. V. Oommen ¹, M. G. Jancy ², M. A. Akbarsha ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Kariavottom 695 581, Trivandrum, Kerala, IN
2 Department of Animal Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Thiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

The Gymnophiona are the least wellknown amphibian order, an unfortunate situation because these animals can clarify many aspects of amphibian natural history, vertebrate evolution and the physiology of viviparity and fossorial life.

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M. G. Jancy ¹, M. Smita ², M. M. Ibrahmsha ³, O. V. Oommen ², M. A. Akbarsha ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan Univeristy, Tiruchirappalti 620 024, IN
2 Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, IN
3 Department of Zoology, Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchirappalli 620 020, IN

Abstract

The retention of Mullerian duct in the adult male caecilians has been an intriguing aspect of reproductive biology of the vertebrates, as it defies the established knowledge of sex differentiation. It is hypothesized that this retention must have a bearing on the unique aspects of their reproduction namely internal fertilization and partial- to total viviparity, particularly in the secretion of a seminal plasma in which sperm should be suspended during ejaculation.

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