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1 April 2009 Functional Morphology of Femoral Glands in the Tegu Lizard, Tupinambis merianae
Silvia Chamut, Valeria García Valdez, Mario E. Manes
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Abstract

Several lizards have femoral glands, which have an influence in various reproductive behaviors. In this paper we describe the morphological organization of the femoral glands in the Tegu, Tupinambis merianae, by means of light and electron microscopy. Even though these glands are present in both genders, secretions during the reproductive period can only be found in males. The glandular parenchyma, which is organized in numerous secretory units, consists of keratinocyte-like cells and granular cells. The holocrine secretion is constituted from both cells, which lose their integrity and become a semi-amorphous material, reinforced by keratin sheets. The discharges of each unit merge together into a solid cylinder of secretion, surrounded by epithelial cells, that is extruded to the exterior. The keratin sheets and epithelial layers that surround both the complete and partial secretions form a sort of structural support suitable for the type of territorial demarcation characteristic of the species. The granular cells, supposedly the producers of pheromones, are characterized by the presence of electron-dense granules and multilaminar membranous bodies that show ultrastructural changes of unknown function. The free granules in the secretion cylinder may act as pheromone deposits.

© 2009 Zoological Society of Japan
Silvia Chamut, Valeria García Valdez, and Mario E. Manes "Functional Morphology of Femoral Glands in the Tegu Lizard, Tupinambis merianae," Zoological Science 26(4), 289-293, (1 April 2009). https://doi.org/10.2108/zsj.26.289
Received: 17 October 2008; Accepted: 14 January 2009; Published: 1 April 2009
KEYWORDS
femoral glands
morphology
Tegu lizard
territorial demarcation
Tupinambis merianae
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