The reproductive cycle of the flowered racer (Platyceps florulentus) from a rural area to the east of the Nile Delta, Egypt.

The present piece of work aims to study the reproductive cycles of both sexes of the flowered racer, (Platyceps florulentus), from a rural area to the east of the Nile Delta, Egypt. In males, spermatogenesis started in winter, continued in spring, peaked in summer, and ceased in autumn. The lowest relative weight of testes was recorded in autumn. It gradually increased until it reached a maximum value in summer when sperms were observed in smears of the caudae epididymis. In females, the previtellogenic phase started in winter and continued in spring. The vitellogenic and postvitellogenic phases were recorded in summer and autumn, respectively. The lowest relative weight of ovaries was recorded in autumn. It gradually increased until it reached a maximum value in summer when ovulation occurred. It is clearly evident, that the reproductive cycle of males, in the present study,  is of the vernal type, and that of females is of the prenuptial type. The reproductive cycles of both sexes occur once a year and coincided with each other. The mating season of this snake species was in summer when environmental conditions were most favorable. The results of the present study are of special interest to wildlife conservationists since they help manage the natural populations of this snake species.