ABSTRACT
Anatomy: Ovaries in anuran amphibians are paired organs lying on the ventral side of the kidneys. In adult females ovaries are much bigger than kidneys, because they are filled with diplotene oocytes at various stages of development. Ovaries are composed of several lobes called also ovarian sacs (Figs. 1A,C,E and 6A). The left ovary is usually bigger than the right one, and contains 1-3 sacs more. Ovarian sacs are well seen in juvenile females and become less distinct in the adults. The number of sacs is species specific and in most cases ranges from one to more than twenty. Anatomical studies on the number of ovarian sacs were carried out in several species by Bhaduri and Basu (1957). They recorded 1 lobe in Arthroleptis sylvaticus; 3 in Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens; 4-5 in Phrynobatrachus natalensis, Afrixalus fluvovittatus leptosomus, Hemisus marmoratum guinnense; 5-6 in Rana (Conraua) cassipes, Phrynobatrachus versicolor, Cacosternum boettgeri, Chiromantis rufescens, Hyperolius viridiflavus coerulescence, and 6-7 in Rana subsigillata. More recently Ogielska and Kotusz (2004) described the number of ovarian sacs as 6-9 (and sometimes 10) in Rana lessonae, R. ridibunda, R. temporaria, R. arvalis; 8 in Bombina bombina; 10-12 in Hyla arbórea, Bufo bufo, B. viridis; 13 in Pelobates fuscus, and the highest number of 23 lobes in Xenopus laevis. The shape of ovarian lobes is variable (Fig. 1A,C,E), and can be pyramidal with tops oriented towards the mesovarium (P fuscus, R . lessonae), irregular (R. temporaria) or strongly folded (B. viridis).
