Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 7 March 1975:
Vol. 187. no. 4179, pp. 844 - 845
DOI: 10.1126/science.1114329
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Science, Vol 187, Issue 4179, 844-845
Copyright © 1975 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Copulatory plugs in snakes: enforced chastity

MC Devine

The male of some snake species forms a copulatory plug which occludes the oviductal parts of the female's cloaca for a few days. The plug, apparently formed from secretions of the kidney immediately after insemination, probably prevents rival males from copulating with the same female.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Sperm competition and the evolution of male reproductive anatomy in rodents.
S. A Ramm, G. A Parker, and P. Stockley (2005)
Proc R Soc B 272, 949-955
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)