MACRO AND MICRO ANATOMY OF THE MALE GENITALIA OF THE NIGERIAN LAUGHING DOVE (Spilopelia senegalensis)

Abstract

In the present study, male reproductive tract of the Nigerian laughing dove was studied, where twenty doves were captured from the wild in Funtua village, Katsina State, Nigeria.  They were euthanized according to standard ethical practice. The reproductive tract was subsequently harvested and the gross and micro anatomical features were studied. The testis, epididymis and ductus deferens of the birds were dissected and prepared for histological study. Result showed that the male reproductive tract of the Nigerian Laughing dove consist of the testis, tubuli recti, rete testis, efferent ductules, epididymis and the ductus deferens. The testis in this present study was ellipsoidal to bean in shaped. The tunica albuginea was present and epididymis was not divided into head, body and tail. Result also showed that the concentration of spermatozoa varies from low concentration from the rete testis to high concentration towards the ductus deferens. It was therefore concluded the male reproductive organs of the Nigerian Laughing dove like other avian species consist of the testis, extratesticular rete testis, efferent ductules, connecting duct, epididymal duct and ductus deferens