When Is a Male Turtle Not a Male?—Observations on Intersex Turtles

Colin J. Limpus; Duncan J. Limpus; Mark A. Read; Nancy N. FitzSimmons

doi:10.2744/CCB-0720.1

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Colin J. Limpus,¹ Duncan J. Limpus,¹ Mark A. Read,^1,2 Nancy N. FitzSimmons³

¹Department of Environment and Resource Management, PO Box 15155, City East, Queensland 4002, Australia [ , ] col.limpus@epa.qld.gov.au duncan.limpus@epa.qld.gov.au
²Current Address: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, PO Box 1379, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia [ ] mark.read@gbrmpa.gov.au
³Applied Ecology Research Group, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia [ ] Nancy.FitzSimmons@canberra.edu.au

Abstract

We report on an intersex green turtle, Chelonia mydas, observed at Raine Island, Australia that externally resembled an adult male but internally—based on laparoscopic examination—had both ovarian and testicular structures resembling those of an adult. This individual was the first intersex turtle that has been recorded on a nesting beach during the 39 years of extensive census studies in Queensland. Its observation confirms that the definitive identification of sex with marine turtles remains dependent on observations of their gonads or on observing eggs being laid.

Citation Download Citation

Colin J. Limpus, Duncan J. Limpus, Mark A. Read, and Nancy N. FitzSimmons "When Is a Male Turtle Not a Male?—Observations on Intersex Turtles," Chelonian Conservation and Biology 8(1), 102-105, (1 May 2009). https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-0720.1

Received: 12 November 2007; Accepted: 1 March 2009; Published: 1 May 2009

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