Sperm retention

[allegraf]

Very interesting, I wonder if this holds true for other torts...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20318565

 

[dannel]

Huh! Promiscuous tort???

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

It holds true for many, perhaps all chelonians. It is not possible to say all for sure. All have not been investigated, but it is true for such a wide range that it is not too speculative to suggest that a part of what makes a turtle, a turtle, is sperm storage. Deep evolution time would suggest that as divergent as those species are with verified sperm storage, it is a chelonian trait shared by all. But it has not been specifically observed in all.

Will

 

[Tom]

Interesting article. I've often considered the female's role in copulation.

Sperm retention is different for different species from the anecdotal instances that I have seen. I have heard multiple accounts of leopards being able to produce viable eggs for 4-5 years after contact with a male, and I've heard of, and seen, sulcata females sharply dropping their rate of fertility in just one or two clutches without mating.

 

[Baoh]

I personally know of a seven-year situation for a particular yellow foot female. I wonder if she can go for eight.