Evidence of multiple paternal contribution in Podocnemis sextuberculata (Testudines: Podocnemididae) detected by microsatellite markers

We found evidence of multiple paternity in a sample of 12 Podocnemis sextuberculata nests including seven nests (80 hatchlings) collected along the Amazonas River, in the municipality of Barreirinha, AM, Brazil and five nests in the Abufari Biological Reserve, Tapaua, AM, Brazil (54 hatchlings). As observed in other species of the genus, P. sextuberculata also presented polyandric behavior. By means of allelic frequency and variation in six microsatellite loci for each location, the occurrence of multiple paternity in sampled nests of this species was inferred, even though the maternal genotype was unknown. For one of the nests, a minimum of four males contributed to the clutch, whereas for nearly all remaining nests at least two males contributed. Only one of the twelve nests did not show clear evidence for contributions from more than one male. This is the first genetic evidence of multiple paternity in P. sextuberculata.