Reproduction of Snake-eyed Skink Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) (Squamata: Scincidae) in Bulgaria

摘要

Currently, information on the reproductive cycle of snake-eyed skink Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) in Bulgaria is lacking, though some data on egg laying were published. We performed a histological study on gametogenesis and incubation period of eggs of this species. The histology of testes demonstrated that males reached sexual maturity at snout-vent length (SVL) of 39 mm; for females, the result was not conclusive. The male reproductive cycle had four phases: quiescence in July, recrudescence in August, spermiogenesis in September-October and March - May and regression in June. Four phases were detected also in the females: quiescence in July - October, vitellogenesis in April and May with early vitellogenesis in April, pre-ovulatory follicles in May and fertilised eggs in June. Results also revealed that females produce one clutch of eggs per year and could lay up to five eggs (usually four) in a couple of days. The species had a prolonged egg laying period: from the beginning of June to the beginning of August. The egg incubation period at room temperature was between 26 and 42 days. Considering the short lifespan of the species, A. kitaibelii reaches sexual maturity relatively early.