Abstract
Reproductive tissue was examined from 145 museum specimens of Crotalus scutulatus from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. Males follow a seasonal testicular cycle with sperm produced June-September; regressed testes were present March-May and October. Recrudescence occurred March-July. Timing of this cycle is similar to that of several other North American rattlesnakes. Sperm was present in the vasa deferentia March-October suggesting C. scutulatus has potential for breeding throughout this period. Females appear to have a biennial reproductive cycle with yolk deposition completed over two activity seasons. Mean litter size for 35 C. scutulatus was 8.2 ± 2.36 SD, range 5-13 young. Yearly percentages of gravid females appear to be related to food abundance.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 101-109 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Texas Journal of Science |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - May 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics