ScienceAsia 15 (1989): 237-249 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1989.15.237

DEVEWPMENT OF, AND SEASONAL CHANGES IN, THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OF ACHATINA FULICA

UDOMSRI NGOWSIRI,^a PRAPEE SERTARUGSA,^a PRASERT SOBHON,^aMALEEYA KRUATRACHUE,^b JITTIPAN CHAVADEJ^b AND E. SUCHART UPATHAM^b

ABSTRACT: The development of, and seasonal changes in, the reproductive system of the giant African snail, Achatina fulica were studied by light microscopy. The ovotestis first appeared in 3-month-old snails. It was composed of many acini which contained various stages of developing germ cells; namely, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa. Groups of sperm heads were found to be adhered to Sertoli cells. The large oocytes were first observed in snails aged 5 months old. They were often located at the periphery of acini and progressively increased in number as the snails reached the age of 7-8 months. Beyond this age, the number of oocytes decreased. During the year, the number of oocytes per acinus was highest in May and September, and lowest in March. Spermatozoa were produced continuously throughout the year.

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a Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
b Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Received 24 May 1990