Produção e nutrição de Muçuãs (Kinosternon scorpioides) em cativeiro: estudos preliminares para o desenvolvimento de um sistema zootécnico

Abstract

Scorpion Mud Turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) is a popular chelonian in the Amazon region. However, there are few studies that address the production of this animal in captivity (kinosternon farming). Therefore, through these studies aimed to obtain information to assist in developing a husbandry system for this species. Thus, this thesis is divided into two parts, the first relating to the introduction and theoretical framework, and the second consists of six papers. The 1st article aimed to gather and discuss information on the current knowledge of nutrition of turtles, directed to animal production. Could conclude that the great diversity of species of turtles, and the differences between them, require comparative approaches between species, which generates greater effort for the establishment of nutritional requirements and protocols for each species of this group of animals. The 2nd article aimed to gather information that will help to support adequate supply of vitamins and minerals for turtles in captivity. We concluded that one should take into account the sources of supplementation and the association of these compounds in the diet, and its interference with the absorption of these nutrients is of utmost importance. Article 3 evaluated the performance of Scorpion Mud Turtles bred in captivity in the stages of 50 - 100g and 100 - 200g. And it was observed that feed intake was equal in both phases, however there were differences in growth and weight gain. Article 4 evaluated the growth performance of juvenile Scorpion Mud Turtles fed diets of different protein levels. In which we observed better performance of animals fed diets containing 32% crude protein (CP). In the 5th article aimed to determine the apparent digestibility of diets with different protein levels to Scorpion Mud Turtles in captivity. It was observed that the diet with 42% CP was that provided higher retention of the components studied. Increasing the percentage of crude protein diets generally resulted in increased ADC of CP. And in Article 6, we assessed the behavior and level of acceptance of different food fruit waste by Scorpion Mud Turtles in captivity. We evaluated the acceptance of five different fruit processing waste: coconut, orange, pineapple, acerola and mango. Phases of feeding behaviour observed in the animals were foraging, approach, olfactory recognition, capture, dilaceration, and ingestion. Neustophagia and head cleaning with the forelimbs after ingestion were observed, as well as acceptance of all waste presented, with the smallest to the crushed coconut.