Literaturdatenbank
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Rivera, S., Syed, G. P., & Zenteno-Ruiz, C. E. , Health assessment of captive dermatemys mawii in nacajuca, mexico. Paper presented at Turtle Survival Alliance 2006 Annual Meeting.
Added by: Admin (13 Dec 2008 22:23:53 UTC) |
| Resource type: Proceedings Article BibTeX citation key: Rivera2006a View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Dermatemydidae, Dermatemys, Dermatemys mawii, Haltung = husbandry, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Veterinärmedizin = veterinary medicine Creators: Rivera, Syed, Zenteno-Ruiz Collection: Turtle Survival Alliance 2006 Annual Meeting |
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| Abstract |
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The Central American river turtle (Dermatemys mawii) is the only member of the family Dermatemydidae. This turtle is found in lagoons, lakes, and rivers from southeastern Mexico through northern Guatemala and Belize. This species is highly adapted to their aquatic environment and do not move well on land. They can stay submerged for prolong periods and it is believed that it can exchange oxygen form the water through the nasopharyngeal epithelium. This species is most active at night and adults feed almost exclusively on plant material. Adults can reach 65cm and can weigh up to 25 kg. The scutes that cover the shell are thin, skin-like and can be easily and permanently damaged. Dermatemys mawii is one of the most highly protected species of turtles and is currently listed on CITES appendix II. The future of this species in its natural range is bleak. The greatest threat is overexploitation as a human food source. There is a government-operated facility in Nacajuca, Mexico that has the largest captive breeding population of Dermatemys mawii. Most of the animals in this facility originated from a large donation 26 years ago. They currently have between 800-900 animals. Keeping this many animals of this delicate species in captivity represents quite a challenge. During a recent visit to this site many animals were evaluated for overall health. Some of the health problems observed included decreased weight, shell trauma, fungal and bacterial shell lesions, and ectoparasites. There is currently an ongoing project looking at several hematologic parameters in captive and wild animals to assess their overall health. There are undergoing projects aimed at improving the infrastructure and management of the facility, which in turn will help decrease the morbidity associated with these factors. A lot of work is still needed to evaluate the medical problems in captive Dermatemys mawii, and how these can affect the species’ management in captivity.
Added by: Admin |