EFFECTS OF INCUBATION TEMPERATURES ON SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION IN TURTLE, CHELYDRA-SERPENTINA

Eggs of the common snapping turtle, C. serpentina, were incubated at constant temperatures ranging from 20-30.degree. C. At hatching, the oviducts were absent or incomplete in males; the testes were differentiated. In females at hatching, the oviduct was intact but in some cases the gonad retained bisexual characteristics. Three months after hatching, the ovary was differentiated and contained follicles. Eggs incubated at 20.degree. C and 30.degree. C developed into females in 100% of the cases. At 2.degree. C, 99% of the individuals were males; at 24.degree. C, 00% were males. More males than females developed at incubation temperatures of 22.degree. C and 28.degree. C.