Reproductive Characteristics of Rio Grande Cooters (Pseudemys gorzugi) in Western Texas

摘要: Testudines is a reptilian order characterized by low annual recruitment and delayed sexual maturity. One testudine species of conservation concern is the Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi), a taxon native to the southwestern United States and the westernmost species in this genus. A clear understanding of the reproductive biology of turtle species in the wild better informs conservation management options. The reproductive biology of P. gorzugi has been formerly investigated in the Black River of southeastern New Mexico. Because life history strategies of chelonian taxa may vary across geographic gradients, we examined the reproductive biology of this species at 3 sites in west Texas from 2017 to 2019. We detected follicle enlargement beginning in the fall with shelled eggs appearing as early as 7 April and as late as 12 August. We found a significant quadratic relationship between day of year and …