title: Gender Identification by Cloacoscopy and Cystoscopy in Juvenile Chelonians.
abstract: Cloacoscopy and cystoscopy are simple, noninvasive to minimally invasive techniques that provide excellent visualization, and result in fast recovery. General or intrathecal anesthesia is sufficient. They can be performed in free-ranging turtles under field conditions. Cloacoscopic gender identification of external genitalia is not reliable because of the high degree of misinterpretation between phallus and clitoris, especially in juveniles. However, saline-infusion or air insufflation cystoscopy through the urinary bladder (or accessory vesicles/bladders) is often effective for the visualization of gonads and to identify the sex. Visualization of gonads is feasible through the urinary bladder or accessory vesicle wall in many species.
authors.affiliation: CRARC (Catalonian Reptile and Amphibian Rescue Center), C/Santa Clara, s/n Masquefa 08783, Spain. Electronic address: albertmarsil@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Silvestre
authors.affiliation: Zoologic Badalona Veterinary Clinics, C/Conquista, 74, Badalona 08912, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bargalló
authors.affiliation: Zoologic Badalona Veterinary Clinics, C/Conquista, 74, Badalona 08912, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grífols
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002988:Cloaca / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014426:Turtles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology
keywords: Chelonian; Cloacoscopy; Cystoscopy; Gender identification; Reproductive; Tortoise; Turtle