REPRODUCTION IN MALES OF THE FEATHERTAIL GLIDER ACROBATES-PYGMAEUS (MARSUPIALIA)

Abstract

Between 1984 and 1986, reproductive tracts were collected from 17 male Acrobates pygmaeus (Shaw) from south‐eastern Australia and the anatomy of these tracts is described. The prostate is heart‐shaped and the arrangement of its three segments, anterior, central and posterior, is different to the patterns described for other marsupials. The testes are large in proportion to the body size but their structure and that of the remainder of the tract is typical of other marsupials. The sperm morphology is similar to that of the Phalangeridae and Burramyidae. Seasonal cycles were found in the sizes of testes and prostates. Increases in testes sizes, starting in April or May, were associated with in..