The female reproductive system of the eastern Australian scorpion.
The reproductive system of the female Urodacus manicatus (Scorpionidae) is described. Situated on the ventral side of the ovariuterus tubes are buds and diverticulae belonging to three developmental phases: (1) Bud-like, rudimentary diverticulae that will form future generations. (2) Embryonic diverticulae that will house the present generation. (3) Degenerating (= 'post-partum') diverticulae that contained the previous generation of juveniles just born. The smallest buds could be identified only by scanning electron microscopy of the ovariuterus tube. The various diverticulae were counted and their dimensions were measured. Based on the average number of the embryonic diverticulae, it appears that the average number of young that can be produced by a female during a single parturition is 16.8. This number does not appear to increase significantly with the growth of the female.
Warburg
M R
MR
Department of Biology, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
Rosenberg
M
M