Dimensions, mass and volume of the liver of turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans WIED, 1839)

Turtles are the oldest representatives of the class Reptilia, as they appeared on earth about 340 million years ago. Currently, there is little more than 200 species, varying greatly between sizes and natural environment. The Trachemys scripta elegans, belonging to the suborder Cryptodira and family Emydidae, comes from the Mississippi Valley in the United States of America. This study aimed to determine the size, mass and volume of the liver of Turtle T. scripta elegans (WIED, 1839) correlating the hepatic data with body biometrics and gender. The liver is across the middle third of the coelomic cavity, with two lobes, right and left, taking the carapace and the dorsal vertebrae, and the plastron, ventral. Furthermore, we observed that the organ has reddish-brown color, but in the case of males, were slightly pale, yellowish-brown all over its surface. The gallbladder was present on the rear-end face of the organ. In females, most of the variables (mass, volume and dimensions) established correlations, demonstrating the interdependence of physical biometric parameters and liver of the turtle Trachemys scripta elegans. However, in males, few variables were correlated, i.e. the parameters are developed independently. It follows therefore that only in female Trachemys scripta elegans, the values of hepatic biometry are proportional to the values somatometric, i.e. the larger the animal, the bigger the liver.

Dimensions, mass and volume of the turtles kidneys(Trachemys scripta elegans WIED, 1839)

The Trachemys scripta elegans turtle species, which was described by WIED, in 1839, it belongs to the suborderCryptodira and the Emydidae family, it came up from the Mississippi Valley, United States of America. Itis probably the most widespread reptile species worldwide. This study aims to determine the dimensions(thickness, length and width), the mass and volume of their kidneys and establish a correlation betweenbiometric parameters of the left and right kidneys, and those with biometrics body. The kidneys are locatedin the caudal portion of the coelomic cavity, parallel to the vertebral column, and disposed dorsally on thesyntopic organs to them, adhered to the carapace, after the bridge, in close proximity to the oviduct, in females,and testicles, in males. They also have elongated morphology craniocaudalis, rough aspect and brownish. Inliterature, there is no data concerning to the dimensions, mass and volume of the turtles kidneys, specificallyeither the Trachemys scripta elegans species, and this is the first study determining such parameters. For mostindividuals, the variables (mass, volume and size) established correlations, it demonstrates the interdependenceof biometric parameters and renal body of the turtle. And even where there was no correlation, the valueswere very close to the limit set by statistical analysis (-r- > 0.5). Similarly, we observed a significant correlationbetween the parameters of contralateral and intersex kidneys. So it follows thefore that the biometrical renalvalues of Trachemys scripta elegans is proportional to the somatometric.