Females can retain sperm and produce offspring up to five years after insemination. Sexual maturity appears to be size-related, with males maturing when their carapace length is about 10cm and that of females 17cm. "We monitored the temperatures at Cooks Beach and it was hovering a couple of degrees below the Goldilocks temperature." "The 'Goldilocks' temperature is 28.5 degrees, where either sex can be hatched.
"Between 20 and 27 degrees, every egg is going to be male, and above 31 degrees females are produced. He predicts that within 10 years, more female turtle offspring will hatch as – like many reptiles – the temperature determines the sex.
Mr Ling says global warming was likely the cause of breeding populations in New Zealand. They have also been caught in the Whanganui River." "A female turtle there has been seen laying eggs. University of Waikato biological scientist Nick Ling says, "The species seems to have been in the lake for at least 20 years. Whanganui wildlife photographer Ormond Torr says his first photos of a turtle were taken at Virginia Lake in January 2010. It was originally thought the species could not reproduce in the wild in New Zealand due to our cooler climate.Ĭaptured turtles are being housed at the University of Waikato help with research into this species involves developing eDNA detection and isotope analysis to determine feeding habits. A female turtle still carrying eggs was removed from the wild before laying her eggs. Volunteers check the trap daily and have caught 12 turtles so far.
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