40 J onn B. Iverson 



typically found in the female reproductive tract along with oviducal eggs 

 and/or corpora lutea. 



Ova were removed from oviducal eggs to determine their approximate 

 size at ovulation. Twenty-two excised yolk masses averaged 16. 24*1. 06 

 (Range = 14.5-18.0) in diameter. Maximum diameter of an ovarian folli- 

 cle was 17.5. Only four females had ovarian follicles exceeding 16 mm in 

 diameter. 



The ovaries of one dissected female (98.8 PL), collected 22 April 1972, 

 were anomalous in that her ovaries bore no corpora lutea or follicles > 4 

 mm in diameter. 



Of 50 females with oviducal eggs and corpora lutea, 16 exhibited 

 evidence of transuterine migration of ova. Net migration was away from 

 the tract with the larger ovary in 11 (68.8%) of the cases, and probably 

 served to equalize reproductive tract volumes. 



The length of time that eggs were retained in the oviducts is not known. 

 No females with oviducal eggs had the corresponding corpora lutea in 

 any state of regression; all appeared fresh (maximum corpora lutea 

 diameter is 6-7 mm). A physiological mechanism such as that suggested 

 by Moll and Legler (1971) may allow female K. baurii to retain their eggs 

 until suitable nesting sites and conditions can be found, without 

 possibility of subsequent ovulation. 



Table 1 . Percentage of mature female Kinosternon baurii bearing enlarged follicles 

 (> 7.0 mm), oviducal eggs, and corpora lutea for each month. 





% with 



% with 





Sample 



Enlarged 



Oviducal 



% with 



Size 



Follicles 



E gg s 



Corpora lutea 



9 



100 



77.8 



100 a 



2 



100 



50 



50 



25 



100 



56 



92 



9 



88.9 



44.4 



55. 5 a 



15 



73.3 



53.3 



73.3 



7 



57.1 



28.6 



42. 9 a 



1 



100 



o 



100 



4 



100 



25 



25 



4 



100 



100 



100 



9 



100 



88.9 



100 a 



3 



100 



100 



100 



7 



100 



100 



100 



Month 



January . . 

 February . 

 March . . . 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August . . . 

 September 

 October . . 

 November 

 December 



includes one female with two sets of corpora lutea. 



