Ciclo espermatogénico del lacertilio <i>Sceloporus mucronatus</i> (Reptilia: Phrynosomatidae)

Abstract

The annual spennatogenesis cycle of the lizard Sceloporus mucronatus from Acocomulco, Hidalgo, México, was classified into seven stages. It has a long recrudescence period (6.5 months), starting during the winter with spennatogonial proliferation; the greatest number of primary and secondary spennatocytes oceur in fue spring and summer, respectively. During late summer and early fall the spenniogenesis takes place; the previous pattem defines a seasonal fall reproductive cycle, and the recrudescence is probably due to adaptative pressures controled by the neuroendocrine system. Populations reproduce in spring-summer or summer-fall. This results will help to understand the mechanism that regulates the fall repruductive season of temperate species inhabiting zones with tropical influence