A Study On Organ Growth Patterns Of Lab-reared Hatchlings Of Five Fresh Water Turtle Species

With the fast development of turtle breeding industry, accumulating studies were performed to solve problems impacting the success of artificial breeding, such as diet, breeding, disease prevention and treatments etc. However, there are relatively few studies focusing on growth patterns of turtles, particularly rare for hatchlings. This restricts the effectiveness of management of those hatchlings to some degree. This study focuses on the growth patterns of hatchlings of five turtle species that are extensively farmed in south China, namely red-eared slider (Trachemys scriptd), Chinese striped-neck turtle (Ocadia sinensis), yellow-bellide turtle (Trachemys scriptd), ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) and river cooter (Pseudemys concinnd). Hatchlings of3-8days old were collected and raised in a same lab condition until about200days old. Body mass, shell measurements and dry weight of stomach, small intestine, large intestine, heart, lung, liver and kidney were measured for the analysis of growth pattern of those organs. Results showed1) the growth rate of the five species raised under the same condition varied in the order of Chinese striped-neck Turtle> river cooter> ouachita map turtle> red-eared slider> yellow-bellide turtle;2) Body mass showed significantly correlated with shell measurements;3) The shape of shell in the five species were maintained the same throughout the experimental period;4) Growth rate of internal organs were in the order of stomach, small intestine, heart, kidney and liver in the red-eared slider and Chinese striped-neck turtle;5) The large intestine of Chinese striped-neck turtle (herbivore) grew faster than the red-eared slider (carnivore), and significantly correlated with the growth rate of stomach;6) the growth rate of lung was faster in red-eared slider (aquatic species) than in Chinese striped-neck turtle (terrestrial species);7) the over all growth rate of left and right lung and kidney was about equal with a little variation in the red-eared slider and Chinese stripped-neck turtle. The results demonstrate the growth trends of organs that are fundamental for deepening the understanding of the physiology of turtle hatchlings, and benefit the effective management of turtles.