TY - JOUR
T1 - Successfully Determining the Sex of Adult Varanus mertensi (Reptilia: Varanidae) Using a Combination of Both Hemipenile Eversion and the Ratio of Androgens:Estradiol in Plasma
AU - Mayes, P.J.
AU - Bradshaw, Don
AU - Bradshaw, Felicity
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - In remote field localities, given limited access to specialized equipment, determining the sex of captured adult varanid lizards before release can be problematic. Determining the sex of the tropical semiaquatic Varanus mertensi, a species with significant tail musculature, is difficult using traditional hand-pressure-induced hemipenile eversion. As an alternative, we propose an extended technique for identifying the sex of adult V mertensi. We recommend using a combination of the traditional field-based hemipenile eversion technique and a measurement of the ratio of androgens to estradiol in plasma samples taken from field-captured animals.
AB - In remote field localities, given limited access to specialized equipment, determining the sex of captured adult varanid lizards before release can be problematic. Determining the sex of the tropical semiaquatic Varanus mertensi, a species with significant tail musculature, is difficult using traditional hand-pressure-induced hemipenile eversion. As an alternative, we propose an extended technique for identifying the sex of adult V mertensi. We recommend using a combination of the traditional field-based hemipenile eversion technique and a measurement of the ratio of androgens to estradiol in plasma samples taken from field-captured animals.
U2 - 10.1196/annals.1327.074
DO - 10.1196/annals.1327.074
M3 - Article
C2 - 15891073
SN - 0077-8923
VL - 1040
SP - 402
EP - 405
JO - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
JF - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
ER -