Non-invasive semen collection from rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus terrififus)

The main threats to the extinction of snakes are the loss and degradation of their natural habitat, mainly due to deforestation, urban expansion and fires. One of the ways of preserving snakes can be through the collection, analysis and cryopreservation of semen, and for collection, several techniques have been described, from compression and abdominal massage for ejaculation to the use of 1% lidocaine anesthetic solution for relaxation and direct access to the genital papilla. Therefore, the objective of the work was to revive the technique used in 1980, which consisted of abdominal massage and semen collection with the aid of a syringe. For the study, 5 snakes of the species Crotallus durissus terrificus (rattlesnake) were used, from APASS, in the city of Assis, state of São Paulo. The results obtained were an average seminal volume of 300 uL, with sperm motility of 68%, progressive motility: 3, sperm pathologies: 1, sperm concentration: 1.4 x 109 sptz/mL. Therefore, it is concluded that the non-invasive harvesting method using abdominal massage is still effective.