212
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
subsequently returned to the foraging area (although there is no evidence that they
migrated to the nesting area), most (seven of nine) did not ovulate during the
interval. When examined via laparoscopy back in their foraging area, the seven
were absorbing the yolky follicles (forming atretic follicles). The ovaries of these
turtles completed vitellogenesis but did not ovulate; they contained atretic follicles
but did not contain corpora albicantia, which form only following ovulation. Four
of the seven were observed in their second nonreproductive vitellogenesis; three
of these four turtles ovulated that season (2–3 years following the first). This
nonreproductive vitellogenesis prior to the first successful breeding season has
also been observed in green turtles.
A group of males was examined during puberty. The testis increased in size and
changed shape to become ellipsoidal (Table 7.4). However, the change in the epididymis provided a more reliable indication of puberty. The epididymis became a
distinct ridge that was obviously raised from the body wall.
7.6 ADULT
Marine turtles require decades to reach maturity ( Chaloupka and Limpus, 1997;
Limpus and Chaloupka, 1997; Limpus and Limpus, in press), and not all mature at
the same size (Limpus et al., 1994a; 1994b). The new recruit female does not join
the breeding population at the minimum breeding size (Limpus, 1992; Limpus and
Limpus, in press). New recruits have a carapace length that is slightly smaller than
TABLE 7.4
Characteristics of Pubescent Marine Turtle Ovaries and Testis Based on
Laparoscopic Examination
Structure
Characteristic
Interpretation
Ovary
Stroma partly expanded
Previtellogenetic follicles
mostly of uniform size, but a
few scattered atretic follicles
may occur
Oviduct
Partly convoluted
Pubescent female
Testis
Ellipsoidal
Pubescent male
Epididymis
Distinct ridge, obviously raised
from body wall
Pubescent male
Source: From Limpus, C.J. 1990. Puberty and first breeding in Caretta caretta . Pp. 81–84. In:
Proceedings of the 10th Annual Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation . NOAA Tech.
Memo. NMFS-SEFSC-278; Limpus, C.J. 1992. The hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata , in
Queensland: population structure within a southern Great Barrier Reef feeding ground. Wildl. Res.
19:489–506; and Limpus, C.J. and Limpus, D.J. (in press). The biology of the loggerhead turtle,
Caretta caretta, in Southwest Pacific Ocean foraging areas. In: The Biology of he Loggerhead Turtle,
Caretta caretta. (A. Bolten and B. Witherington, eds.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
With permission.
1123 book.book Page 212 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
subsequently returned to the foraging area (although there is no evidence that they
migrated to the nesting area), most (seven of nine) did not ovulate during the
interval. When examined via laparoscopy back in their foraging area, the seven
were absorbing the yolky follicles (forming atretic follicles). The ovaries of these
turtles completed vitellogenesis but did not ovulate; they contained atretic follicles
but did not contain corpora albicantia, which form only following ovulation. Four
of the seven were observed in their second nonreproductive vitellogenesis; three
of these four turtles ovulated that season (2–3 years following the first). This
nonreproductive vitellogenesis prior to the first successful breeding season has
also been observed in green turtles.
A group of males was examined during puberty. The testis increased in size and
changed shape to become ellipsoidal (Table 7.4). However, the change in the epididymis provided a more reliable indication of puberty. The epididymis became a
distinct ridge that was obviously raised from the body wall.
7.6 ADULT
Marine turtles require decades to reach maturity ( Chaloupka and Limpus, 1997;
Limpus and Chaloupka, 1997; Limpus and Limpus, in press), and not all mature at
the same size (Limpus et al., 1994a; 1994b). The new recruit female does not join
the breeding population at the minimum breeding size (Limpus, 1992; Limpus and
Limpus, in press). New recruits have a carapace length that is slightly smaller than
TABLE 7.4
Characteristics of Pubescent Marine Turtle Ovaries and Testis Based on
Laparoscopic Examination
Structure
Characteristic
Interpretation
Ovary
Stroma partly expanded
Previtellogenetic follicles
mostly of uniform size, but a
few scattered atretic follicles
may occur
Oviduct
Partly convoluted
Pubescent female
Testis
Ellipsoidal
Pubescent male
Epididymis
Distinct ridge, obviously raised
from body wall
Pubescent male
Source: From Limpus, C.J. 1990. Puberty and first breeding in Caretta caretta . Pp. 81–84. In:
Proceedings of the 10th Annual Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation . NOAA Tech.
Memo. NMFS-SEFSC-278; Limpus, C.J. 1992. The hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata , in
Queensland: population structure within a southern Great Barrier Reef feeding ground. Wildl. Res.
19:489–506; and Limpus, C.J. and Limpus, D.J. (in press). The biology of the loggerhead turtle,
Caretta caretta, in Southwest Pacific Ocean foraging areas. In: The Biology of he Loggerhead Turtle,
Caretta caretta. (A. Bolten and B. Witherington, eds.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
With permission.
1123 book.book Page 212 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM