First successful artificial insemination of the endangered Louisiana pinesnake, Pituophis ruthveni.
assisted reproductive technology
captive breeding
ex situ conservation
reptile
semen
Journal
Zoo biology
ISSN: 1098-2361
Titre abrégé: Zoo Biol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8807837
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
17 Jan 2024
17 Jan 2024
Historique:
revised:
31
10
2023
received:
09
12
2022
accepted:
02
01
2024
medline:
18
1
2024
pubmed:
18
1
2024
entrez:
18
1
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
The Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni) is considered one of the rarest snakes in North America and was federally listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2018. Captive breeding and reintroduction of zoo-bred hatchlings has been successful, however, limited founders in the captive population and the inability to bring new, wild genes into the captive colony presents a major concern for the conservation of this species. The use of artificial insemination (AI) was first applied to snakes in the 1980s but further development of the technique has since received little attention. Our goal was to develop a method of AI for use in breeding Louisiana pinesnakes to facilitate gene flow from wild to captive populations. We inseminated two captive Louisiana pinesnakes with semen collected from one donor male, novel to both females. Timing of AI occurred following the emergence of females from brumation, and when large, distinct follicles were detected using digital palpation. Females were inseminated four and five times over a period of 14 and 19 days, respectively, using fresh and 2-day refrigerator stored semen. One female laid seven eggs, which resulted in four fertile eggs and two viable hatchlings, while the second female produced three fertile of seven eggs laid but no viable hatchlings. Genetic analyses confirmed the donor male was the sire of hatchlings. This is the first successful AI of an endangered snake species and provides a framework for the use and optimization of assisted reproductive technologies for use in conservation breeding programs.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : This study was funded by the Memphis Zoo, the Memphis Zoo's Conservation Action Network conservation fund (Roberts 2018), and a US Fish and Wildlife Service Grant Agreement (Award Number F19AC00617).
Informations de copyright
© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Références
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