The tail of Ascaphus : a historical resume and new histological-anatomical details
Date
1954-12
Authors
Van Dijk, D. E. (D. Eddie)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The pelvic girdles of the two anuran genera Ascaphus and Leiopelma
of the family Ascaphidae are very similar. Attached to them by cartilage
(or connective tissue in some Ascaphus specimens) is a cartilaginous, in
Leiopelmu somewhat ossified, epibubis. In Ascaphu8, as in Xenopus, the epipubis
originates from two Anlages, and its muscles are also paired in the Ascaphidae,
while in Xenopus only one is present, although this also appears to originate
(rom two muscles. The cloaca extends behind the pelvic girdle in both sexes
in Al:lcaphus, and it is supported by two rods consisting of strong connective
tissue (Faserknochen?). These rods are attached to the ventral surface of
the pelvic girdle, in the female closely, in the male by means of tendons.
Between the rods and the epipubis a broad tendinous band extends, which is
thick in the male; in the latter the mm. compressores cloacae have their
origins posteriorly on the rods, while in the female the rods are completely
imbedded in these muscles posteriorly. In the female particularly there are
transverse muscle fibres which are not striped although probably derived from
the mm. compressorcs cloacae. Behind the pelvic girdle there is cavernous
tissue in both layers of the tunica muscularis, and ventrally it covers the mm.
eompressores cloacae. The circular and longitudinal muscle layers are
poste riorly separated by gliding planes. The cloaca is supplied by branches
of the a. mcsenterica posterior and the au. pudendae anteriores, and is drained
by the vv. pudendae and a small medial v. eaudalis. The cloaca is innervated
dorsally by the plexus ischio·coccygeus and ventrally by a branch of the n.ischiadicus (the n. pudendus). The cloaca of the male serves as a copulatory
organ. There is internal fertilization.
No Afrikaans abstract available.
No Afrikaans abstract available.
Description
Thesis (MSc)-- University of Stellenbosch, 1954
Published in the Annals of the University of Stellenbosch, Volume 31, Section A, No.1 (1955)
Published in the Annals of the University of Stellenbosch, Volume 31, Section A, No.1 (1955)
Keywords
Ascaphus -- Anatomy, Pelvic girdle, Cloaca, Leiopelma, Epipubis, Muscles of the pelvic region, Dissertations -- Zoology, Theses -- Zoology, Tailed frog -- Anatomy