ABSTRACT:
This study aimed to evaluate the body biometry and hematological profile of Trachemys scripta elegans (N=28) and Trachemys dorbignyi (N=22) reared in captivity in the Brazilian submedium northeastern semi-arid region in the Valley of the São Francisco river. It aimed to establish basic health blood values and generate useful data on the comparative physiology of Testudines. After 120-day adaptation and 24-hour fasting, 2.5mL of blood were collected from the dorsal occipital sinus and deposited into a tube with sodium heparin for evaluation, following, of hematological levels. The red blood cell count (RBC) and GLC was conducted in a Neubauer chamber, the hemoglobin level (HGB) was supplied by the cyanmethemoglobin method and the hematocrit (HCT) was obtained by the microhematocrit technique. Based on the RBC, the hematimetric were mathematically established. Body biometry were also evaluated: a) body mass (BM, g); b) maximum dimensions of the carapace [length (MLC, cm) and width (MWC, cm)]; c) maximum dimensions of plastron [length (MLP, cm) and width (MWP, cm)]; d) total length of tail (TLT, cm); e) linear length from the base of the tail to the cloacal orifice (LPrC, cm); f) linear length from the cloacal orifice to the extremity of the tail (LPoC, cm). T. scripta elegans showed higher values (P<0.05) for biometrics, while TLT and LPrC were higher (P<0.05) in T. dorbignyi. The hematological values did not differ (P>0.05) among species. The results show that most of the variation found between T. scripta elegans and T. dorbignyi is explained by the biometric variables and that some hematologic correlations characterize interspecies differences. It was conclude that the results shed light on benchmarks for these species kept in captivity in the northeastern semi-arid region and serve as a model for intra and interspecies comparative physiology.
INDEX TERMS:
Trachemys scripta elegans; Trachemys dorbignyi; Testudines; Emydidae; body biometry; hematology; red cell indices; reptiles
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