Nesting of Phrynops geoffroanus (Testudines: Chelidae) on sandy beaches along the Upper Xingu River, Brazil

Abstract

This work presents the first data on incubation temperature of Phrynops geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812) in a natural environment, and provides information on nest predation, hatching success and size of offspring born in the nests on sandy beaches along the Upper Xingu River. Thirty-one P. geoffroanus nests were found, of which eleven were completely predated, mainly by Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766). Incubation was completed in nine out of the 17 nests protected by netting. The nests presented an average of 13.1 eggs and were distributed over the various geomorphological sectors of the nine sampled beaches. The size and weight of the hatchlings varied significantly between nests, and the incubation period in protected nests lasted for 76.5 days, less than reported for controlled incubation in the laboratory. Daily variation in incubation temperature in the three nests monitored for temperature was lower in those situated in fine sand sediments. Incubation temperature varied from 22 to 39 C and may have affected hatching success, which reached 60.8% in protected nests. Nest distribution in different geomorphological sectors indicated the plasticity of P. geoffroanus in terms of variation in nesting environment, which partly explains the species' broad geographical distribution

Reproductive ecology of the endangered Beal’s-eyed turtle,Sacalia bealei

“…Ant predation likely contributed to the death of two hatchling turtles. Ant predation is commonly reported in many other turtle species (Parris, Lamont & Carthy, 2002; Ferreira Júnior et al, 2011; Buhlmann & Offman, 2001; Correa-H et al, 2010; Yang, 2014; Erickson & Baccaro, 2016). In some cases, invertebrates including ants, flies, and beetles could infest more than 50% of nests (Baran et al, 2001).…”

Opening a turtle graveyard: Size distribution of dead individuals of Phrynops geoffroanus (Pleurodira, Chelidae)

“…Phrynops gr geoffroanus (Pleurodira, Chelidae) is a side-neck turtle widely distributed in freshwater drainages of South America, including Caatinga (Turtle Taxonomy Working Group 2017); it currently forms a still much-debated species complex (Pritchard and Trebbau 1984;Ernst and Barbour 1989;Rueda-Almonacid et al 2007;Ceríaco and Bour 2012;Friol 2014;Carvalho et al 2017; hereafter simply Phrynops geoffroanus). Hatchlings of P. geoffroanus have, on average, 3.83cm of carapace length (Ferreira Júnior et al 2011), while adult females of this species may reach up to 39 cm of carapace length (Friol 2014). Although Chelidae is the most diverse freshwater turtle family in Brazil and P. geoffroanus is the most widely distributed species in this country (Turtle Taxonomy Working Group 2017), no strategies to deal with severe drought periods have been described for this species, which commonly inhabits large and perennial aquatic systems, even urban polluted streams, where it performs activities like feeding, copulating and resting (Souza and Abe 2001;Rueda-Almonacid et al 2007;Souza et al 2008).…”

Aspectos comportamentais e morfo-fisiológicos das trocas gasosas de >i<Phrynops geoffroanus>/i< (Wagler, 1830) (Testudines: Chelidae)

“…Esses animais vivem a maior parte do tempo em ambientes de água doce (ORENSTEIN, 2012). Os trabalhos encontrados na literatura que contemplam o gênero Phrynops abordam principalmente assuntos sobre taxonomia (RODHIN & MITTERMEIER, 1983;Bickham et al, 2007;Friol, 2014), relações filogenéticas (SEDDON ET al., 1997;GEORGES et al, 1999;FUJITA et al, 2004;WINKLER, 2006;LOURENÇO et al, 2012;FRIOL, 2014), distribuição geográfica (RUSSELL et al, 1978;BRANDÃO et al, 2002;SOUZA, 2005), importância econômica e influência antrópica (BRITES & RANTIN, 2004;FACHÍN-TERÁN et al, 2001a;PIN, 2009;PIÑA et al, 2009), aspectos alimentares (MOLINA, 1990;FACHÍN-TERÁN & VOGT, 1995;MOLINA et al, 1998;SOUZA, 2004); conservação (BUGONI et al, 2001;THOMÉ et al, 2007) e biologia reprodutiva (ALHO & PÁDUA, 1982;BUJES, 1998;SOUZA & ABE, 2001;BAPTISTOTTE et al, 2003;TORTATO, 2007;SILVA & VILELA, 2008;FERREIRA JR. et al, 2011;SCHNEIDER et al, 2011). A fisiologia da respiração desse táxon tem sido negligenciada e existe somente um trabalho na aérea (CORDEIRO;ABE & KLEIN, 2016).…”