Calotes || Urinogenital (male & female) System

Urinogenital System of Calotes

A] Reproductive System of Calotes

        Calotes is bisexual animal i.e, sexes in Calotes are separate. It is difficult to distinguish between the male & female from external morphological features.

    i] Male Reproductive system 

        A pair of testes :-  A pair of testes situated in the abdominal cavity which remain suspended by a special dorsal fold of the mesentery, called mesorchium. The testes are which oval bodies. The testis of the right side is larger in size compared to the of the left side & situated slightly higher up in the abdominal cavity.

        Epididymis :-  From the inner surface of each testis runs the epididymis proceeds posteriorly as vas defence.

        Vasa deferentia :-  Two Vasa deferentia open separately by small papillae into the cloaca but before opening into the cloaca each receive the ureter of the corresponding side. So through this common duct both urine & male gametes pass into the cloaca which is designated as the urinogenital duct.

        Hemipenis :-  The posterolateral side of the cloaca is provided with a pair of copulatory sacs each of which houses a hemipenis. The hemipenis is reversible. The hemipenis are grooved to conduct sperm from the cloacal cavity of the male into that of a female.

    ii] Female reproductive system 

        A pair of ovary :-  A pair of ovaries which have similar position as the to testes. Each ovary is attached to the dorsal side by a special fold of the mesentery, called the mesovarium.

        Oviduct funnel :-  The anterior end of the oviduct is wide, funnel-shaped, & ciliated & is situated near the corresponding ovary below level of lungs.

        Oviduct :-  The female gonoduct is called oviduct. The oviduct is attached to the body wall by a special fold of the peritoneum, called the broad ligament. The oviducts are not coiled but are folded which run posterior to open independently into the cloaca.

        In Calotes, the fertilization is internal. Mature eggs are heavily yolked & are covered by calcareous shell.

B] Temporary mounting of scales, pecten and hyoid apparatus of calots

    1] Scales 

        The skin of Calotes, like other reptiles is covered by epidermal scales. Each scales covers an epidermal & dermal scales elevation. The scales from a continuous cover over the entire body of Calotes but becomes thinner in the grooves between the scales.

        There are two types of Scales :- 

        i] Larger scales

            and 

       ii] Smaller scales lying between larger scales

        Sensory structures in the form of sensory bristle are present on some large as well as small scales. These larger scales are called head shields. A few scales are called head shields. A few scales situated on the mid-dorsal line & on the border line of neck have become modified into larger & pointed structures. The scales cover is periodically shed by a process, called ecdysis.

Fig. Scales in Calotes

    2] Hyoid Apparatus

            The floor of the oral cavity is supported by a cartilaginous structure, called the hyoid apparatus. It is also supports the tongue. The hyoid apparatus consists of basihyal, anterior cornua, middle cornua & posterior cornua. Basihyal adapts the body to the hyoid system. It is a median cartilagenous rod and directed anteroposteriorly to from the osentoglossus. They extend backwards & outwards. Each cartilagenous rod is composed of two segments.

Fig. Hyoid apparatus in Calotes