Basic morphological data and notes on natural history and conservation of a populationof Emys orbicularisin southern Apulia (Carovigno, Salento)

Abstract

A population of Emys orbicularis hellenica (Valenciennes, 1832) from the coastal pond of Pantanagianni was studied for two years using capture-mark recapture methods; 57.1% of specimens were females, 32.1% males, and 10.8% immature. For every specimen captured, a series of biometric parameters were applied and information relating to phenotypic characteristics was gathered. The statistically analysed data, from twenty-five sexually mature animals, clearly showed evident sexual dimorphism, with lighter males having narrower shells than those of females. Often, the average values of the parameters analysed were lower than those of other southern populations, while the females had with absolute values higher than those of males.The arrangement of the yellow marks on the shells proved to be a visible characteristic made up of yellow spots in the males and of thin lines on dark ground in the females. In both sexes, the plastron appeared mostly yellowish with the presence of larger dark specks in the males.A diffused yellow spotted carapace was often the prevailing colour of the head and the neck, with a yellowish or light brown ground in the males and darker or blackish one in the females.Yellow marks were present on the front legs and on the back of the tail which are larger then in males. The colour of the iris was often yellow or yellowish with some brown spots. Population size, sex-ratio and feeding habits were studied.KEY WORDS: Coastal pond -Emys orbicularis -Sexual dimorphism. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI would like to express my debt and gratitude to G. Ciola, P. Friz, U. Fritz and E. Santoro for their indispensable advice.

Sexual dimorphism of the European Pond Turtle,Emys orbicularis(Linnaeus, 1758), in Anzali Lagoon, Iran (Reptilia: Emydidae)

“…In comparing the results of these differing parameters, mass, length, height and width of the shell highlighted the importance of their role in the sexual dimorphism of the species (Fattizzo, 2004), which is in agreement with our observations. In agreement with the results obtained by Mazzotti (1995) and Zuffi and Gariboldi (1995b), significant differences were found between males and females in shell height (SH).…”

“…In agreement with the results obtained by Zuffi & Gariboldi (1995b) and Fattizzo (2004), a comparison between the ratio and the difference between the TL/PL and PL-TL showed that in males the tail was longer with respect to the length of the shell. The considerably larger CT/TL ratio in the females, and TL-CT in the males, clearly confirmed the role that the presence of the penis had in determining the longer length in the first part of the tail of the males, and its application to the determination of sex in this species.…”

“…The significant differences found in the CL/BW, SH/CW, and SH/CL ratios confirmed that the adult males studied were on average lighter, with smaller and more compressed shells than the females. However there was no significant sexual difference in the shape of the carapace (CW/CL) as in Italian populations (Zuffi & Gariboldi, 1995b;Fattizzo, 2004). However, we found a significant difference in the shape of the plastron (PW/PL) between the sexes, and this is not in agreement with the Italian populations.…”

Differences in gene flow in a twofold secondary contact zone of pond turtles in southern Italy (Testudines: Emydidae:Emys orbicularis galloitalica,E. o. hellenica,E. trinacris)

“…Thus, large‐scale bias from introduced turtles is unlikely. In agreement with their mitochondrial haplotypes, the very most turtles from southern Apulia are morphologically typical representatives of E. o. hellenica (Fattizzo ), irrespective of a genotypic impact of E. o. galloitalica . This suggests either largely male‐mediated gene flow from E. o. galloitalica into E. o. hellenica or selection against hybridization in the opposite direction.…”

“…While there are many admixed individuals or genotypically pure E. o. galloitalica with hellenica haplotypes, there is not a single genotypically pure E. o. hellenica with galloitalica haplotypes, and this is also true for southern Apulia and Basilicata (Fig. : sites 23–27) where pond turtles are still widely distributed and quite common (Fattizzo ). Thus, large‐scale bias from introduced turtles is unlikely.…”