Morphological and biological variations of the glass snake Ophiodes striatus (Spix, 1825) (Squamata, Anguidae) from southeastern Brazil.

Lizards of the Ophiodes genus, popularly known as glass snakes, are exclusively Neotropical. Despite their wide geographic distribution, glass snakes are poorly studied and there are many knowledge gaps in their biology and ecology to be filled. In this context, the objective of this study was to analyze possible sexual and population morphological differences of Ophiodes striatus specimens collected from different municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 63 specimens belonging to the Herpetological Collection of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora - Reptiles (CHUFJF-Reptiles), collected between 1995 and 2015 were analyzed. All the specimens were necropsied and morphometric measures related to body and head were measured. The males and females analyzed showed similar morphometric measures, and there was no size-related sexual dimorphism. Principal component analysis did not group the analyzed specimens by sex or locality. A positive correlation was observed between the snout-vent length and the vestigial limb length. The present study brings new information related to sexual dimorphism and population morphometric variation of O. striatus, adding information that will help in better understanding the ecology, biology and evolution of the genus in Brazil.

Morphological and histological characterization of sexual segment of the kidney in Notomabuya frenata (Cope, 1862) and Aspronema dorsivittatum (Cope, 1862) (Squamata, Mabuyidae).

The kidneys in two viviparous species of Neotropical lizards, Notomabuya frenata and Aspronema dorsivittatum (Mabuyidae), were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy in order to determine the presence of the sexual segment of the kidney (SSK) and to study its morphology. The individuals used in this study belong to the Herpetological Collection of the Herpetology Laboratory - Reptiles of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (CHUFJF-Reptiles) and they were collected between the years 2008 and 2012 from the Cerrado region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The SSK was present only in sexually mature males (with sperm in the testes / epididymis), whereas it was absent in sexually immature males. The nephron in both species consists of renal corpuscle, proximal convoluted tubule, distal convoluted tubule, collecting duct and sexual segment of the kidney. The SSK of the analyzed species were coated with a simple columnar epithelium, with high cells, basal nucleus and in the apical portion innumerable secretory granules. This study adds to the knowledge on reproductive biology and structures related to reproductive strategies of both lizard species and viviparous Neotropical lizards.