Seasonal Testicular Histology And Reproductive Cycle Of The Rainbow Lizard, <i>Agama agama agama</i>, L, (Agamidae, Reptilia) In Ile-Ife, South Western Nigeria

Abstract

Seasonal histological features of the testis and epididymis were studied in male A. agama agama from July l990 to June, 1992 at Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Testis weights showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the dry and rainy seasons, but were generally low from August to January. Whereas seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelia heights showed no seasonal variation (p > 0.05), the epididymal tubule diameter and epithelia heights varied seasonally (P < 0.001). Although males in full breeding condition were caught all through the months, such were more prevalent from April to July. Females with eggs or enlarged ovarian follicles were caught all through the study period. Cases of multiple clutches were predominant from February to July. However vitellogenic activities decreased from August to January thus coinciding with the observed decrease in spermatogenic activity in the male. We propose that individual male Agama lizards maintain peculiar breeding patterns and that reproduction in Agama seems to be influenced by food availability as well as microclimatic conditions at oviposition sites.