Correlation between endoscopic sex determination and gonad histology in pond sliders, Trachemys scripta (Reptilia: Testudines: Emydidae)

Abstract

Coelioscopy has been proven to be a valuable technique to determine the sex of juvenile chelonians. However, there is a disagreement regarding the proper way to identify testes and ovaries, which is a direct consequence of the lack of studies correlating the results of endoscopic examination with the histology of the gonad. In this blinded study we assessed two methods of sex determination in juvenile pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) using endoscopy: via coelioscopy, with visualization of the gonads, and via cloacoscopy, with visualization of phallus/clitoris; we then compared the results of these procedures with the histology of the gonad. The results of gonad histology correlated 100% with the results from coelioscopic examination, but only 57.77% of the results obtained by cloacoscopy were accurate. Using cloacoscopy, 83.33% of males and 38.46% of females were misdiagnosed. Sex determination of juvenile pond sliders was considered accurate when coelioscopy was used, but inaccurate when cloacoscopy with identification of phallus/clitoris was attempted.