Sexual Maturity in the Female of the Turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans1 By FRED R. CAGLE SOME data on the slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans Wied), obtained in Illinois, provide information on the age and size at sexual maturity, the annual reproductive cycle, and on the character of the eggs. Since the female slider turtle does not develop any conspicuous secondary sex characters, maturity in this sex can be determined only through field observation of nesting individuals or by the examination of the reproductive organs. The latter method has been most useful. The technique of detecting the presence of oviducal eggs (Cagle, 1944) has furnished some data and the examination of ovaries the remainder. The ovaries were removed, hardened in formalin, and retained in alcohol. The total volume and weight of each pair of ovaries and the greatest diameter of all follicles larger than 3 mm. were recorded.
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Fred R. Cagle (1944) studied this question.