NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE SLIDER, TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS (REPTILIA: EMYDIDAE), INHABITING MAN-MADE CATTLE PONDS IN WEST TEXAS

摘要

Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied) inhabiting two man-made cattle ponds (0.23 and 0.18 ha) were studied in West Texas during a two year period. Adult females appeared to outnumber adult males. Males were less likely to be recaptured than females. Forty-six percent of the turtles from Sims Pond were captured only once whereas 61% from Quahadi Pond were captured once. The highest number of captures of an individual was eight. Cloacal extension past carapace margin, claw and tail lengths relative to carapace length were sexually dimorphic and females obtained larger size than males. As determined by radiography, the mean number of eggs was eight. Density estimates for Sims Pond were 513 and 247 turtles per ha in 1988 and 1889, respectively; for Quahadi Pond they were 983 and 333. Biomass estimates for Sims Pond were 462 and 374 kg/ha per year; for Quahadi Pond they were 304 and 194 kg/ha per year.