REPRODUCTION IN THE BLACKTAIL RATTLESNAKE, CROTALUS MOLOSSUS (SERPENTES: VIPERIDAE)

摘要

Reproductive tissue was examined from 107 museum specimens of Crotalus molossus from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. Males follow a seasonal testicular cycle in which spermiogenesis occurs May-September. Sperm was present in the vasa deferentia from all months examined: April-May, July-September. The smallest spermio- genic male measured 576 mm SVL. Enlarged ovarian follicles were present in April, July, September-October. Oviductal eggs were present April and June.