Cloacal glands of the group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus (Sauria: Cordylidae)

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dc.contributor.advisorFlemming, Alexander F.
dc.contributor.advisorMouton, P. le Fras N.
dc.contributor.authorAlblas, Amanda
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology.
dc.date.accessioned2012-08-27T11:33:08Z
dc.date.available2012-08-27T11:33:08Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.descriptionThesis (MSc) -- Stellenbosch University, 2004.
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: Standard histological procedures revealed that there are two types of glands in the cloacal complex of the viviparous Cordylus cataphractus. These occur in the urodeal region of the complex (called urodeal glands), and in the posterior proctodeum region (called proctodeal glands). Urodeal glands are found in females only and differentiate at sexual maturity. Proctodeal glands occur in both sexes and the dorsal and ventral proctodeal glands are identical in structure. Seasonal activity in cloacal gland structure and secretory was studied. Urodeal glands show distinct seasonal variation in development and secretory activity, they become enlarged in vitellogenic females, remain active during pregnancy, with glandular activity peaking around parturition. Proctodeal glands, in contrast, show little or no seasonal variation in development or secretory activity in both sexes. Secretion quantity, however, is highly variable among individuals of the same sex, time of year, as well as reproductive stage, but evidently much less in females than in males. Although the possible functions of the cloacal glands are still unclear, two main functions are suggested: a) mechanical function such as lubrication or a substrate for genital products and b) pheromonal communication. I propose that urodeal glands are involved in some reproductive function rather than in social communication, because very little secretion is found during the mating season and peak glandular activity are evident around parturition. The opposite may be true for proctodeal glands, but further investigation is needed, particularly chemical analysis of secretion and behavioural manipulation, to determine the role of these glands in social communication.
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Standaard histologiese tegnieke dui aan dat daar twee tipes kliere voorkom in die kloakale kompleks van die lewendbarende akkedis, Cordylus cataphractus. Die een kliertipe word in die urodeale omgewing aangetref en staan bekend as die urodeaalkliere, terwyl die ander groep in die posterior area van die proktodeum voorkom en proktodeaalkliere heet. Urodeaalkliere word slegs in wyfies aangetref en ontwikkel eers na volwassenheid bereik is. Proktodeaalkliere kom in albei geslagte voor en dorsale en ventrale aspekte van hierdie kliere is identies aan mekaar. Die seisoenale aktiwiteit in struktuur en sekresie-aktiwiteit van hierdie kloakale kliere is ondersoek in mannetjies en wyfies wat gedurende verskillende maande van die jaar versamel is en dus in verskillende voorplantingstadia was. Urodeaalkliere het duidelike seisoenale variasie vertoon wat beide ontwikkeling van die klier en sekretoriese aktiwiteite betref. Die klier vergroot tydens vitellogenese, bly aktief tydens swangerskap en bereik maksimale aktiwiteitsvlakke rondom geboorte. In teenstelling hiermee het die proktodeaalkiere van beide geslagte weinig of self geen seisonale variasie in hul ontwikkeling of sekretoriese aktiwiteit getoon nie. Die hoeveelheid sekreet vrygestel was merkbaar minder in wyfies as in mannetjies, maar hoogs veranderlik tussen individue van dieselfde geslag of voortplantingstadium; of wat in dieselfde tydperk van die jaar versamel is. Alhoewel funksies van kloakale kliere steeds onduidelik bly, word twee hooffunksies voorgestel: a) ‘n meganiese funksie, byvoorbeeld as smeermiddel of as ‘n substraat vir geslagsprodukte en b) ‘n kommunikasie funksie, byvoorbeeld in die vrystelling van feromone. Ek stel voor dat die urodeaalkliere eerder by ‘n voortplantingsfunksie betrokke is, aangesien baie min sekreet gedurende die paarseisoen vervaardig word terwyl klieraktiwiteit rondom geboorte ‘n piek bereik. Die teenoorgestelde mag geld vir proktodeaalkliere, maar vereis verdere ondersoek. Veral ‘n chemiese analise van die sekresie en gedragsmanipulasie sal nuttig wees om ‘n moontlike rol van hierdie kliere in sosiale kommunikasie te bepaal.
dc.format.extent136 leaves : ill. (some col)
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49884
dc.language.isoen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subjectLizards -- Physiology
dc.subjectLizards -- Anatomy
dc.subjectDissertations -- Zoology
dc.titleCloacal glands of the group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus (Sauria: Cordylidae)
dc.typeThesis
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