Figure 1

Sperm storage in Ichthyophis cf. kohtaoensis . A: Female guarding a clutch of eggs. B: Viscera of a preovulatory female. C: Posterior body with oviduct outlined, horizontal lines indicate border between different oviductal parts. Green bar indicates region of sperm storage. D–G: Azan stained cross sections of preovulatory females: One female indicating the transition between PC and PU of the left oviduct (D, E) with regressing glands and sperm masses in detail (F) between the mucosal folds and epithelial crypts. G. Spermatozoa stored in tubules of simple tubular glands of the PC. H: Azan stained cross section showing the PU of a gravid female with fewer sperm. Scale bars: A, B 5 mm. D 2 mm. E 500 μm. F 100 μm. G, H 50 μm. ce = ciliated epithelium, cm = circular musculature, cr = epithelial crypt, g = glands, PC = pars convoluta, PU = pars uterina, s = sperm, v = vent. Arrows indicate sperm masses.