58年来首次发现生活的云南闭壳龟及其描述

最近,根据网上信息,作者专程到云南某地查看到业余龟鳖爱好者杨杰先生收集的一只生活的雌性云南闭壳龟：经作者依据云南闭壳龟的原始描述逐字逐句核对,确认为该种无疑。本文对其外部形态特征加以描述,并拍摄照片显示其各部特征以资对照。这是在依据中国云南6号标本发表(1906年)该种后,近100年以来获得第二只生活标本的正式报道。第一只是1946年张玺和成庆泰教授在云南昆明西山采集的一号未注明性别的标本,发表了极为简单的一段介绍和6项测量数据,距令也已有58年之久。目前据作者所知全世界共有12号标本,分别保存于4个国家的5个单位,但除模式标本外,尚未见有对此龟生活个体加以详细描述并正式报道者。云南闭壳龟是中国特有种,在中国也仅发现于云南省境内,研究该龟并切实做好对它们的保护工作,是摆在我们面前的迫切而又艰巨的任务!     

cDNA cloning of turtle prion protein

Cloning of the cDNA coding for the 270-residue turtle prion protein is reported. It represents the most remote example thus far described. The entire coding region is comprised in a single exon, while a large intron interrupts the 5' UTR. The common structural features of the known prion proteins are all conserved in turtle PrP, whose identity degree to mammalian and avian proteins is about 40 and 58%, respectively. The most intriguing feature, unique to the turtle prion, is the presence of an EF-hand Ca(2+) binding motif in the C-terminal half of the protein.     

鼋骨骼系统及与中华鳖比较

采用虫蚀法制备了鼋Pelochelys cantorii和中华鳖Pelodiscus sinensis的骨骼标本, 对骨骼系统进行了观察、描述、绘图及比较分析。结果显示, 鼋的骨骼共169枚, 由背甲和腹甲组成的外骨骼、中轴骨和附肢骨组成的内骨骼组成。通过比较鼋和中华鳖的骨骼结构, 发现二者在头骨的吻突长度及第三颈椎结构方面有较大差别。鼋眼眶前部至吻突最前端的长度与头骨总长度比为0.082, 而中华鳖为0.570, 显示中华鳖吻突显著长于鼋。鼋与中华鳖的颈椎骨数目均为9枚, 但中华鳖的第三至第九颈椎的横突要更明显, 第七颈椎的椎体向上显著翘起, 且第九颈椎腹面椎体前端为尖状。从整条颈椎上看, 鼋脊椎长度与其背甲长度之比为0.66, 中华鳖为1.07, 表明中华鳖的颈椎更长; 研究结果丰富了鳖科动物的骨骼学基础数据, 也为鼋物种鉴定、龟鳖动物系统演化及生态适应性提供骨骼学理论依据。     

A juvenile eurysternid turtle (Testudines: Eurysternidae) from the upper Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of Nusplingen (SW Germany)

A juvenile turtle from the upper Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of Nusplingen is identified as an eurysternid turtle. It differs in plastral morphology from a juvenile eurysternid turtle from the latest Kimmerdigian of Kelheim described in the 19th century, which represents a comparably early developmental stage. Both juveniles have primordial ribs not yet transformed into costals and lack all other carapacial elements whereas the plastral elements are well developed. The new specimen from Nusplingen has a more robust plastron type when compared to the very gracile, bow- or arc-shaped plastron type of the formerly described juvenile. Both plastron types are also represented by yet undescribed additional juvenile, medium-sized and/or larger eurysternid specimens. The juvenile specimens thus likely document the presence of two morphologically very similar eurysternid taxa in the Upper Jurassic of southern Germany. Both plastron types are different from those described for Idiochelys and Solnhofia but may resemble plastron morphology of Eurysternum, which is, however, only incompletely known.     

中华鳖4个品系营养成分分析与比较

为了解墨鳖的营养价值, 对墨鳖、野生中华鳖、淮河鳖和日本鳖肌肉的一般营养成分、氨基酸含量、脂肪酸含量及裙边胶原蛋白进行测定和比较。结果显示: (1) 4个品系鳖肌肉水分含量分别为80.84%、79.48%、81.57%和79.25%, 墨鳖显著高于野生鳖和日本鳖(P<0.05); 粗蛋白含量分别是17.82%、17.60%、15.93%和16.40%, 墨鳖含量最高, 显著高于淮河鳖和日本鳖(P<0.05); 粗脂肪含量分别是0.42%、1.43%、0.65%和1.06%, 墨鳖显著低于其他鳖(P<0.05); 4个品系鳖灰分含量差异不显著(P>0.05)。(2) 4个品系鳖肌肉中总氨基酸和呈味氨基酸含量均以墨鳖最高。(3)4个品系鳖不饱和脂肪酸含量分别为65.19%、56.44%、59.32%和54.73%, 墨鳖显著高于其他鳖(P<0.05), 其中墨鳖单不饱和脂肪酸含量显著低于野生鳖(P<0.05), 多不饱和脂肪酸含量显著高于其他3个品系(P<0.05); 饱和脂肪酸含量分别为32.50%、41.85%、39.41%和39.98%, 墨鳖显著低于其他鳖(P<0.05)。(4)墨鳖肌肉中DHA和EPA含量与野生鳖差异不显著(P>0.05), 显著高于淮河鳖和日本鳖(P<0.05), 花生四烯酸(AA)含量显著高于其他3个品系鳖(P<0.05)。(5) 4个品系鳖裙边胶原蛋白含量均较高, 为160.6—170.4 mg/g。结果表明墨鳖是一种营养价值高、肉味鲜美的地方品系。     

Characteristics of the structure of the cornea of the reptilian eye]

Submicroscopic structural peculiarities in the cornea are described in some reptiles (grass-snake, lizard, turtle). Certain stages in histogenesis of the grass-snake cornea are presented. Poor differentiation of epithelium and its resemblance to endothelium is demonstrated in the grass-snake cornea. In cytoplasm of cornea cells of lizard and turtle a high content of mitochondria is noted. Great majority of mitochondria compactly arranged in the middle part of cytoplasm provide the appearance of zones. There is a middle zone of mitochondrial arrangement, there are also two zones in cytoplasm (internal-perinuclear and peripheral) without mitochondria but with supporting structures.     

Tetranucleotide markers from the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and their cross-amplification in other marine turtle species

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a federally threatened species and listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions to amplify 11 novel tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from the loggerhead sea turtle. We tested primers using samples from 22 females that nested at Melbourne Beach, Florida (USA). Primer pairs yielded an average of 11.2 alleles per locus (range of 4–24), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.83 (range 0.59–0.96), and an average polymorphic information content of 0.80 (range 0.62–0.94). We also demonstrate the utility of these primers, in addition to primers for 15 loci previously described, for amplifying microsatellite loci in four additional species representing the two extant marine turtle families: olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea).     

Reproductive deficits in male freshwater turtle Chrysemys picta from Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Contaminated groundwater plumes have formed on the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), a Superfund site on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as a result of chemical waste disposal. The plumes are of concern to the local people who rely on groundwater as a drinking water source. We used the freshwater turtle as a sentinel species to monitor the reproductive effects of exposure and, by inference, the potential for impact on human health. Our observations of male Chrysemys picta field-trapped from Moody Pond (an impacted site) and Washburn Pond (a reference site) on Cape Cod extended and supported prior observations of reproductive deficits. Morphometric comparison of precloacal length (PCL), which is a sexually dimorphic trait in the turtle, showed that Moody Pond males had a significantly longer PCL than Washburn Pond males. Moody Pond turtles showed reduced testicular weight, which was associated with significantly smaller seminiferous tubule diameter. Epididymal sperm counts were also markedly reduced in Moody Pond animals compared to Washburn Pond animals. Testicular histology and gonial proliferation, as determined by PCNA, were similar in both male populations, while the Moody Pond males had significantly higher germ cell apoptosis than the animals in Washburn Pond. These results suggest that a low-level mixture of xenobiotic contaminants impairs the reproductive functions of turtles exposed to the impacted site but not to the reference site environment.     

Turtle remains from the Middle Jurassic Xintiangou Formation of Yunyang,Sichuan Basin,China

Three turtle shells from the Middle Jurassic Xintiangou Formation of Yunyang (Chongqing, China) are described and assigned to Xinjiangchelyidae (Testudines: Eucryptodira). This is the first report of turtle remains from the Xintiangou Formation, Sichuan Basin and represents the oldest known Xinjiangchelyidae. The assemblage includes two taxa, Protoxinjiangchelys sp. and Xinjiangchelyidae indet. This discovery extends the stratigraphical distribution of Xinjiangchelyidae and improves our knowledge about the early evolution of that family. It demonstrates that by the Middle Jurassic, at the time of deposition of the Xintiangou Formation, the group was already diversified in the Sichuan Basin.     

Learedius learedi infection in black turtles (Chelonia mydas agassizii), Baja California Sur, Mexico

Black turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) carcasses, recovered as a result of incidental capture in Magdalena Bay, Mexico, revealed invasion by spirorchiid trematode eggs in liver, kidney, intestines, muscle, heart, pancreas, and duodenum. Seventy-five adult Learedius learedi Price, 1934, were recovered from the heart of 1 turtle. Most of the organs showed a mild or absent inflammatory response in histological sections, with the exception of a pancreatic-duodenal section that revealed severe lymphocyte and phagocyte infiltration associated with an infestation of more than 200 eggs. A linear formation of 35 eggs from the pancreas toward the intestinal lumen is described as resembling migration. This is among the first reports of a parasitic infection of L. learedi Price 1934, in C. m. agassizii in Mexico.     

Sea Turtle Nesting as a Process Influencing a Sandy Beach Ecosystem

Sea turtle egg mortality, egg predation, and small organisms associated with turtle nests were studied at Playa Ostional, Costa Rica. Sites with concentrated sea turtle nesting were compared with solitary nesting sites as a function of place and time based on ANOVA, Akaike's Information Criterion, and Bayesian analyses. Results indicate that sea turtle egg mortality was significantly associated (P < 0.005) with flowing water that erodes or saturates nesting sites, and with overlapped nesting in which sea turtles disturb each other's nests. Sarcophagid and calliphorid fly larvae (Bayesian prior = 1.19; posterior = 2.27), fungi (prior = 1.14; posterior = 1.92), mites (prior = 0.51; posterior = 1.15), and several other types of small organisms increased in number after turtle egg laying (N= 303 nests; 34,451 turtle eggs). During peak sea turtle nesting periods, visitation to nesting sites by poachers and vertebrate predators was high, and relative number of nests disturbed by these predators was low (P < 0.02). In multimodel analysis, the three most parsimonious models were: (1) turtle egg mortality and distance from mean high tide; (2) turtle egg predation and distance from mean high tide; and (3) turtle egg mortality and nesting density, with Akaike weights of 0.224, 0.203, and 0.153 respectively. Intensive sea turtle nesting might result in upwelling and turnover of nesting debris and nest organisms, and may influence biotic community structure of sandy beach ecosystems.     

Tissue-specific histones in the erythrocytes of chicken and turtle

Mature erythrocytes from Leghorn chickens contain lysine-rich histone F1 and a tissue-specific histone F2c. The composition of the F1 fraction was found to be similar to the F1 histones in higher vertebrates. In the erythrocytes of a sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), only lysine-rich histones F1 could be detected. One of these fractions (F1b) differed in amino acid composition from the typical F1 histones described in the literature. The F1b histone fraction was not found in turtle liver. Chromatographic analysis of tryptic peptides of the chicken erythrocyte F1 and F2c histones and of the turtle erythrocyte F1a and F1b histones revealed considerable similarities between these four fractions, thus indicating their possible phylogenetic relationships.     

Melanomacrophage Aggregations and Their Age Relationships in the Yellow Mud Turtle,Kinosternon flavescens (Kinosternidae)

Microscopic examination of the pigment cell aggregations in the liver and spleen of mud turtles (Kinosternon flavescens) suggests that the morphology and behavior of these cells is consistent with the melanomacrophages described in teleost fishes and the pigmented “Kupffer cells” described in frogs and reptiles. These cells contain massive amounts of melanin, substantial lipofuscin, and some hemosiderin consistent with their phagocytic function. Similar-appearing isolated pigmented macrophages are solitary in the liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. Number and size of the largest hepatic aggregations increase almost linearly with turtle age so that in old turtles they may constitute up to 20% of the liver volume. This increase may result from hepatic recruitment of macrophages throughout the life of the turtle and suggests that size and number of melanomacrophage aggregations may serve as a marker for senescence in otherwise healthy turtles of this species.     

Life-cycle and biology of Sychnocotyle kholo n. g., n. sp. (Trematoda: Aspidogastrea) in Emydura macquarii (Pleurodira: Chelidae) from southern Queensland,Australia

Sychnocotyle kholo n. g., n. sp. (Aspidogastrea: Aspidogastridae) is described from the small intestine of the freshwater turtle Emydura macquarii (Pleurodira: Chelidae). The new genus is distinguished from other aspidogastrids by the possession of the following suite of characters: no cirrus-sac; no hermaphroditic duct; four rows of alveoli on the ventral disc but no prominent papillae; Laurer's canal opening to the exterior. Eggs hatched to cotylocidia within 37–41 days at 17–24 °C. The life-cycle is obligate two-host, involving a mollusc and a freshwater turtle. Juvenile forms, almost entirely single worm infections, were found in the molluscs Corbiculina sp. (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae) and Thiara balonnensis (Prosobranchia: Thiaridae). Sychnocotyle is most likely to have evolved in Australia after the separation of Gondwanaland from Laurasia 120–100 mya.     

Diversity and structure of turtle assemblages: associations with wetland characters across a floodplain landscape

We studied 24 wetlands along a 296‐km portion of the lower Missouri River floodplain, USA during 1996–1998. Our goal was to examine relationships between wetland characters and freshwater turtle diversity. We collected data on a total of 2201 individual captures of six freshwater turtle species. Ten species variables (richness, evenness, proportion of lentic species combined, proportion of lotic species combined, and proportions of six individual species) described the turtle assemblage structure and were associated with six broad wetland categories (remnant oxbow, remnant slough, connected scour, isolated scour, temporary farmed, and temporary not farmed) as well as with six abiotic (water depth, distance from the river, duration dry, duration flooded, size, and turbidity) and two biotic (primary and secondary productivity) wetland characters. Repeated‐measures MANOVA and ANOVA revealed highest diversity in remnant sloughs and oxbows as well as in newly created scour wetlands and lowest diversity in temporary wetlands. Multiple regressions and correlations indicated that the single most important wetland characteristic for high turtle diversity was a low annual duration of drying. Oxbows supported the highest proportions of lentic turtles; while connected scours supported the highest proportions of lentic turtles. Lentic species proportions were highest in wetlands that were frequently flooded, relatively distant from the Missouri River, and insect rich, while lotic species proportions were highest in wetlands that were turbid, close to the river, and relatively insect poor. The cohabitation patterns of several turtle species suggest that direct or indirect interactions between species may affect assemblage structure. Based on our broad array of wetlands, we identified crucial wetland types and characteristics that were associated with maximum diversity for freshwater turtles. Empirical studies similar to ours across broad landscapes are needed for a variety of wetland floral and faunal groups before sound conservation and management recommendations can be formulated.     

A new species of Opisthioglyphe (Trematoda: Telorchiidae) from gall bladder of turtles in Malaysia

Opisthioglyphe sharmai n. sp. is described from the gall bladder of the Malayan box turtle, Cuora amboinensis, and the black marsh turtle, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, in Malaysia. The new species is morphologically similar to Opisthioglyphe ranae and some other members of the genus parasitic in amphibians and reptiles. Opisthioglyphe sharmai n. sp. is easily differentiated from all other members of the genus by the cirrus sac extending posterior to the ventral sucker, while in all previously known species the cirrus sac is entirely or mostly preacetabular with the base of the structure not reaching beyond mid-line of the ventral sucker. Despite the overall stable morphology, O. sharmai n. sp. is characterized by highly variable arrangement of testes, from tandem to opposite. It is only the second representative of the genus described from turtles and the first species of Opisthioglyphe parasitic in gall bladder, while all previously described members of the genus are parasitic in the intestine of their hosts.     

DNA barcoding of Brazilian sea turtles (Testudines)

Five out of the seven recognized species of sea turtles (Testudines) occur on the Brazilian coast. The Barcode Initiative is an effort to undertake a molecular inventory of Earth biodiversity. Cytochrome Oxidase c subunit I (COI) molecular tags for sea turtle species have not yet been described. In this study, COI sequences for the five species of sea turtles that occur in Brazil were generated. These presented widely divergent haplotypes. All observed values were on the same range as those already described for other animal groups: the overall mean distance was 8.2%, the mean distance between families (Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae) 11.7%, the mean intraspecific divergence 0.34%, and the mean distance within Cheloniidae 6.4%, this being 19-fold higher than the mean divergence observed within species. We obtained species-specific COI barcode tags that can be used for identifying each of the marine turtle species studied.