Male reproductive behaviour of Naja oxiana (Eichwald, 1831) in captivity, with a case of unilateral hemipenile prolapse

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Herpetology Notes

Abstract

The Central Asian cobra, Naja oxiana, is a species with an uncertain conservation status that is rarely bred in captivity. Male N. oxiana exhibit a dissociated breeding pattern, in which mating behaviour coincides with reduced levels of testosterone; the cues that promote copulatory behaviour in this species are not fully understood. Herein we report a case where prolonged copulation led to hemipenile prolapse in a specimen of N. oxiana. When the initial therapeutic intervention failed to relieve the condition the affected hemipenis was amputated, after which the snake successfully recovered. In order to minimize exaggerated copulatory behaviour we recommend keeping this species in segregated enclosures. A better understanding of the cues that trigger normal and exaggerated copulatory behaviour in this species would facilitate its captive propagation.

First Page

1061

Last Page

1064

Publication Date

1-1-2018

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