Comparative morphology of the cloacal scent gland in snakes (Serpentes: Reptilia).
The histology of the cloacal scent gland, or anal gland, was examined from a diverse group of 50 snakes. Extensive interspecific morphological variation was observed in the general structure of the gland and the glandular epithelium. Morphological variants were quantitatively scored from eight features: lobate nature of the gland; septa in the glandular epithelium; glandular epithelium having a rough or irregular outer surface; glandular epithelium having a rough or irregular inner surface; thickness of the glandular epithelium; PAS reactivity in the glandular epithelium; Periodic Acid-Schiff reactivity in the secretory product; and relative size of the cloacal scent gland. The distribution of the encoded morphological variation was compared to an established phylogeny for snakes and used as the basis for a cluster analysis. In both cases there was no apparent relationship between phylogeny and the morphological variation of the cloacal scent gland.
Young
B A
BA
Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042, USA. youngab@lafayette.edu
Marsit
C
C
Meltzer
K
K
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D010802:Phylogeny; D012543:Scent Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012911:Snakes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D013045:Species Specificity