A Case of Hermaphroditism in Rana catesbeiana Shaw

Abstract

A CASE OF HERMAPHRODITISM IN RANA CA TESBEIANA SHAW.-The records of hermaphroditism in the Anura are not rare in the literature but very few instances of such a condition have been recorded for American species (Evans, 1931). This fact may be considered of some significance in view of the large number of specimens which are examined yearly in this country. The writer is aware of only three records of hermaphroditism in Rana catesbeiana, the form most commonly used in laboratory studies (Clemens, 1921; Chidester, 1926; Behney, 1933). The individual concerned in the present report was obtained from a biological supply house in Dallas, Texas. No record of the date or place of collection could be found, It is of medium size: the length from anus to tip of snout, 12.8 cm.; length of right hind leg from anus to tip of fourth digit, 18.2 cm.; diameter of tympanic membrane, 1.3 cm.; length across the mouth at the angle of the jaws, 4.8 cm. There are no external secondary sex characters present. Vocal sacs and thumb pads are totally absent. The external condition of the sex organs is shown in the figure. On the right side there is an almost spherical testis with a single pigmented groove on the ventral surface. The diameter of this testis is .6 cm. There are seven vasa efferentia present in the mesorchium. There is a medium sized ovary (5.4 cm. along outside margin) on the left side. This tissue is thin and apparently underdeveloped. There is no evidence of the presence of an oviduct in the body cavity. Histological sections were made of the testis and ovary. The sections of the testis appeared normal and were filled with mature spermatozoa. No ova were found in the organ as has been reported in other cases. The ovary contained a large number of follicles, each of which possessed several small follicular cells. No developing or mature ova were found in the female organ.