HISTOLOGY AND MORPHOOMETRY OF THE CLOACAL GILLS OF Podocnemis unifilis (TESTUDINES, PODOCNEMIDIDAE)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20873/2024_v3_16

Abstract

Podocnemis unifilis is the most abundant species in the genus, reaching up to 50 cm in length and weighing up to 12.5 kg. The cloacal gills constitute the urogenital system of semi-aquatic chelonians, serving the function of gas exchange. This study aimed to describe morphological, histological, and morphometric aspects of cloacal gills in specimens collected from the Tocantins and Javaés rivers. After collection, the specimens underwent biometry and euthanasia. The organ was fixed and stored in alcohol until paraffin embedding, microtomy, and staining for light microscopy. ImageJ software was used for morphometry. For scanning electron microscopy, the samples underwent a specific protocol, leading to fixation on stubs, image production, and analysis. The cloacal gills exhibited four layers (mucosa, submucosa, muscular, and serosa), with a stratified cuboidal epithelial tissue on the lamina propria and smooth muscle tissue. The abundant presence of capillaries and blood vessels suggests that the gills play a role in gas exchange. A species from the same genus but with a different habitat showed a simple epithelium. In contrast, a species from the genus Phrynops, with a habitat similar to the studied species, exhibited a similar epithelial type, highlighting that the cloacal gill epithelium varies according to habitat.

Published

2024-04-22

How to Cite

Carvalho de Souza, J., Nunes Ribeiro, A. B., Nunes de Santana, D., & Lagares Ferreira Silva, K. (2024). HISTOLOGY AND MORPHOOMETRY OF THE CLOACAL GILLS OF Podocnemis unifilis (TESTUDINES, PODOCNEMIDIDAE). DESAFIOS - Revista Interdisciplinar Da Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.20873/2024_v3_16

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