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The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
7.6*). The oviduct appears as a white and straight duct contained in the mesentery
adjacent to the gonad. The testis enlarges through the years to appear as a pale
salmon-colored, solid structure (Color Figure 7.7); magnification with a hand lens
( ¥ 10) reveals tiny convoluted tubules within the smooth epithelium. The epididymis
is typically visible in the body wall adjacent to the testis as a thickened mass of
tissue; it becomes more obvious as the turtle grows but does not extend from the
body wall until the turtle enters puberty. The epididymis in the larger, prepubescent
males can be seen through the peritoneum as a loosely convoluted, white duct.
TABLE 7.3
Characteristics of a Post-Hatchling through to Prepubescent Marine Turtle
Ovary and Testis Based on Laparoscopic Examination
Structure
Characteristic
Interpretation
Ovary
Stroma compact;
previtellogenetic follicles
small (<0.1 mm) and uniform
in size
Post-hatchling, prepubescent
female
Oviduct
White and straight
Post-hatchling, prepubescent
female
Testis
Solid structure with tiny
tubules visible via
magnification
Post-hatchling, prepubescent
male
Epididymis
Not expanded from body wall
Post-hatchling, prepubescent
male
FIGURE 7.6 Prepubescent ovary (A) and oviduct (B), C. caretta , CCL = 69 cm.
* Color figures follow page 210.
1123 book.book Page 210 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM