Haematological Values of the Helmeted Turtle, Hinged-back Tortoise and Monitor Lizard

Abstract

The haematology of three reptiles, the helmeted turtle, Pelomedusa subrufa (Lacepede 1788), hinged-back tortoise, Kinixys erosa (Schweigger, 1812) and the Nile monitor lizard, Varanus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) collected from towns in southwestern Nigeria was investigated.  Values of the blood parameters differed between species and fell within the range reported for reptiles.  The Nile monitor lizard had the highest red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin content (Hb).  Values of the red cell indices, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) were highest in turtles; and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin content (MCHC) was highest in the tortoise.  Leukocyte count varied within and among species.