Anatomia do sistema reprodutor, ciclo reprodutivo e dimorfismo sexual do lagarto Dryadosaura nordestina Rodrigues, Freire, Pellegrino & camp; Sites, 2005 (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) em fragmento da Mata Atlântica no Estado de Alagoas, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Dryadosaura nordestina comprises a monotypic genus of lizard in the Neotropical family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. It has a robust body, reduced limbs and semi-fossorial habit. The anatomy of the reproductive system, the reproductive cycle and sexual dimorphism were studied to subsidize studies on natural history, ecology and to assist in proposing conservation strategies. The specimens of this study were collected in Mata Serra da Saudinha, in Maceió and in Mata do Cedro, in Rio Largo. Analyses on the reproduction of D. nordestina were performed through macroscopic and microscopic observations of testes and vas deferens in males and observation of ovaries and oviducts in females. Males were reproductive (sperm in the lumen) and females in vitellogenic stage throughout the year. Reproductive females were more abundant during the rainy season, from April to July and in August there was the presence of a pregnant female. Clutch size was two eggs. The young were observed between October and January, in the dry season, suggesting that fertilization occurred between July and August and oviposition between September and November, at the end of the rainy season and beginning of the dry season. There was no sperm storage. Sexual dimorphism was observed in CRC, with males significantly larger than females, presence of 4 precloacal and 6 to 7 femoral pores in males, while in females, when present, there were only precloacal pores.