ABSTRACT
There is a vast literature on the neural and hormonal regulation of reproduction in mammals and birds (for review, see Becker et al. 2002; Pfaff et al. 2002; Nelson 2005). In comparison, there are relatively few studies investigating the neuroendocrine control of reproduction in reptiles, and of these studies, the majority have been conducted in lizards and turtles. Unfortunately for this chapter, there is a paucity of data on the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction in ophidians. Thus, to provide a more complete context for understanding the neuroendocrinology of snake reproduction, we will include, where appropriate, a comparative analysis that incorporates some of the existing literature on other vertebrate species. Because many aspects of reproductive control are likely conserved across taxonomic groups, particularly in ectothermic vertebrates, we hope that this comparative analysis provides a much needed synthesis of our current understanding of how snake reproduction is regulated by interactions between environmental and neuroendocrine signals.
