Effects of temperature on growth in the regenerating tail of the scincid lizard, Mabuya striata
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Date
1977
Authors
Magon, D.K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Zoological Society of Southern Africa
Abstract
Experiments on effects of temperature on growth in the regenerating tail of Mabuya striata, artificially autotomized, suggest a faster rate of regeneration during hot weather than cold weather.
limbs of newts and salamanders can generally be replaced both in adults and larvae. Amongst reptiles, however, regeneration of limbs is not a common phenomenon. In lizards, for example, limb regeneration occurs only as abnormal outgrowths (Goss 1969). A few lizards are known to restore lost tails, and there generated tail is almost a true substitute for the original tail, not only with respect to structure and function, but also to size. The period taken by a regenerating tail to achieve its original length varies from species to species as well as individual to individual. Such variation in the rate of growth of regenerates seems to be correlated with several factors, viz. the amount of tail autotomized, pressure applied at the time of autotomy, temperature, humidity, hormonal levels and diet (Moffat & BeUairs 1964; Bryant & Bellairs 1967; licht 1967; Maderson & licht 1968; Shah & Chakko 1968; Baiinsky 1970; Magon 197580 1975b). Much more experimentation will be necessary, however, before the effects of these factors can be quantified. The experiments described in this paper examine the influence of temperature on the growth in the regenerating tail ofthe scincid lizard, Mabuya striata, during the different seasons of the year, viz. hot season: December - February; rainy season: March - May & September - November; and cold season: June - August.
Description
Keywords
Newts Salamanders, Limb regeneration, Growth period, Influence of temperature, Hormonal levels, Freezing microtome, Haematoxylin-eosin, Wound-closing, Blastema stage, Fibrocytes, Myoblasts, Malphigian layers, Lamellar pattern, Mesenchyme cells
Citation
African Zoology Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 383-388