title: Spermatogenic cycle of a plethodontid salamander,Eurycea longicauda(Amphibia, Urodela).
abstract: Previous investigators have described the spermatogenic cycles of numerous species of plethodontid salamanders. Most studies describe a fairly stereotypical cycle with meiotic divisions of spermatogenesis commencing in the spring/summer. However, many studies lack details obtainable from histological examination and/or testicular squashes and, instead, provide only mensural data from the testes. Studies that lacked microscopic evaluation often revealed spermatogenic cycles that varied greatly from that of the stereotypical cycle with meiotic divisions commencing in the fall/winter. Those studies hamper comparisons between the spermatogenic cycles of different species and their environments, as they do not provide a correlation between testicular size and any aspect of the spermatogenic cycle. In the following manuscript, we elucidate the spermatogenic cycle ofEurycea longicauda longicaudain an effort to outline an appropriate protocol for analyzing spermatogenesis in salamanders that will facilitate future comparative studies. Like many Nearctic plethodontids,E. l. longicaudaexhibits a meiotic wave that travels through the testes during the summer; this process is followed by spermiogenesis, spermiation, and recrudescence in the fall, winter, and spring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology; Southeast Missouri State University ; Cape Girardeau, MO USA.
authors.forename: Dustin S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology; Southeast Missouri State University ; Cape Girardeau, MO USA.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alvino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences; Arkansas State University ; State University, AR USA.
authors.forename: Stanley E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Trauth
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences; Southeastern Louisiana University ; Hammond, LA USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sever
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology; University of Indianapolis ; Indianapolis, IN USA.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gribbins
keywords:  histology; Eurycea; Plethodontidae; Spelerpinae; reproduction; salamander