•  
  •  
 

Keywords

frogs, Wolffian ducts

Abstract

I examined the microanatomy of the distal urogenital system in male Cajun Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris fouquettei) from a small sample (n = 6) collected in central Arkansas in March 2018 and February 2023. Specifically, my primary objectives were to investigate the following: (1) the paired Wolffian (urogenital) ducts caudally from the kidneys to their merging with the urodeum of the cloaca, (2) the structure of seminal vesicles (if present), and (3) the epithelial morphologies among the distal urogenital tract, the posterior alimentary canal, and cloaca. My histological analysis confirmed the presence of ampullae (sperm storage structures) as mid-duct expansions of the Wolffian ducts. The ductal glandular epithelium continued caudally to the cloacal juncture. A sharp contrast in cloacal epithelial linings allowed for differentiation between the urodeum and coprodeum. This histological information will promote a clearer understanding of this urogenital region for a North American hylid frog species and allow for anatomical comparisons to be made with other anurans.

Download

Share

COinS