Many endangered freshwater turtle species are born in captivity for conservation and future reintroduction into the wild. However, in order to improve breeding programs, anassessment of the genetic diversity of the founder individuals is required to avoid genetic problems such as inbreeding, fixation of deleterious alleles, or loss of allelic diversity dueto genetic drift. In this research, we assessed the genetic diversity of the founder individuals from three Wildlife Management Units (UMA) dedicated to the reproduction of Dermatemys mawiiin southeast Mexico, and from three wild populations using ten microsatellite markers. Dermatemys mawiiis a freshwater turtle that is critically endangered due principally to fragmentation, loss, degradation, and contamination of its habitat, inaddition to hunting for human consumption. Furthermore, genetic relationships among UMAs and wild populations, as well as within each kind of group, were investigated by means of Bayesian analysis (STRUCTURE software) and discriminant analysis of principal component (DAPC). Genetic diversity in wild populations could be considered as medium, and are less than values observed for UMAs. Genetic diversity for UMAs and wild populations were discussed considering origin of individuals, translocation between UMAs, habitat quality among other factors. Genetic structure analysis highlighted an evident separation between UMAs and wild populations (Bayesian and DAPC analyses), and thehierarchical analysis of structure among UMAs reflected the origin and relationship among them, whereas geographical situation of wild populations is the best explanation for its hierarchical structure. In light of our results, some conservation and management recommendations are provided for this endangered freshwater turtle.

Hematological and serum biochemistry analyses were determined on 51 Central American river turtles (Dermatemys mawii) during the dry and rainy seasons of 2006. Turtles came from two sites: Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve and a turtle breeding farm, both located in Tabasco State, Mexico. Physical examination and body measures of animals were performed. Incidence and prevalence of hemoparasites were explored. Captive organisms were in poor physical condition while wild turtles were apparently healthy. There were differences in several hematological parameters related with the condition and the season. During the dry season captive turtles exhibited higher levels of uric acid and urea, as well as lower levels of glucose. Haemogregarina sp. was detected in 100% of the wild individuals, but not in captive individuals. Its incidence was greater during the rainy season. This is the first health assessment and hematology study of this critically endangered species.