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On-line version ISSN 1676-0603
Biota Neotrop. vol.5 no.1 Campinas 2005
Morphology of the male reproductive system in three-toed sloth (Bradypus torquatus - Illiger, 1811)
Daniele dos Santos Martins
Sloths are mammals (Class: Mammalia) from Order Xenarthra (or Edentata), that is composed by three subordens and four families: Vermilingua subordem, Mylmeciphagidae family which belongs anteater; Pilosa subordem, Bradypodidae family and Choloepidae family, which we find sloths and Cingulata subordem and Dasypodidae family, where we observe the armadillos. We used in this research three-toed sloth (Bradypus torquatus) being six males and one female at different ages. These animals had been yielded to the Anatomy Laboratory of Surgery Department at College of Veterinary Medicine and Zootecny of São Paulo University (FMVZ/USP) from the Matinha Zoo botanic Reserve, Ilhéus/Bahia (IBAMA Register nº 02006.001.348/98-31). We used the technique of vascular latex injection (Neopreme® 650) and the muscular injection of watery formaldehyde solution to 10%, later analyzed by light microscopy. The results shown the presence of the necklace in adult animals allows to differentiate males from females. The perineal region is found extra cavity with oval shape, delimited by the interpubic, pubic bone and medial processes of pubis and sciatic tubers; it is divided in three regions: aponeurotic, fatty and muscular. The perineal muscles are represented through the muscles: elevator of the anus, sphincter urethral, penis retractor and the muscle sphincter anal. The male reproductive organs of three-toed sloth sloth (Bradypus torquatus) are represented: for a pair of testis; epididimus, composed of head, body and tail, two pairs of accessory genital glands; one composed by a pair of vesicular glands and another pair, the prostate; for male urethra and penis.
Key-words: Bradypodidae. Xenarthra. Perineal. Animlas hair. Animal reproduction
(Mestrado) Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária
e Zootecnia, Departamento de Cirurgia, 2003.
Área de concentração: Anatomia dos Animais Domésticos e Silvestres
Orientador: Profa. Dra. Márcia Rita Fernandes Machado