7 research outputs found
(Costa) among turtles, beaches and oceans
No full textFigure 1. Lateral view of Stomatolepas praegustator Pilsbry (YPM IZ 47956), from inside the gullet of a loggerhead turtle, Wassaw Island, Georgia, USA. Diameter 7.36 mm.Published as part of Pinou, T., Lazo-Wasem, E.A., Dion, K. & Zardus, J.D., 2013, Six degrees of separation in barnacles? Assessing genetic variability in the sea-turtle epibiont Stomatolepas elegans (Costa) among turtles, beaches and oceans, pp. 2193-2212 in Journal of Natural History 47 (33-34) on page 2194, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.798701, http://zenodo.org/record/519753
Microdermatoglyphic patterns in scutes are highly conserved among sea turtle species
No full text6 pages, 2 figures, 1 tablesWhile shape and distribution of epidermal scales and scutes at the macro-level (> 1 mm) are commonly used to distinguish between species and even conspecifics, microdermatoglyphic (< 1 mm) patterning is still unknown for many reptile taxa. We used Scanning Electron Microscopy to provide the first characterisation of the microdermatoglyphic patterns on the scutes of all hard-shelled sea turtles (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys kempii, L. olivacea, Natator depressus) and the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), as well as from the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), and the red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius). All sea turtles and the diamondback terrapin had similar microdermatoglyphic patterns at all tested magnifications (100x, 1000x, 5000x, and 10,000x), with interlocking or overlapping polygon-shaped cornified cells (= Oberhäutchen cells) of 10–50 μm in diameter that display on their surface a tight lattice of irregular microplicae that create pits of approximately 1 μm in diameter. These patterns appeared to be consistent across all life stages. Oberhäutchen cells were also present in the painted turtle, but with shallower microplicae, and the red-footed tortoise exhibited no visible microdermatoglyphic patterning. Our research indicates that microdermatoglyphic patterns are highly conserved within sea turtles even though variability does exist more broadly within the TestudinesFunding was made possible by American Association of University Professors research grants (241272, 241290, 241053) to T. Pinou. NJR was funded by the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación through the Ramon y Cajal postdoctoral program (RYC2021-034381-I). Institutional support was provided to the Institut de Ciències del Mar by the Spanish Government as a “Severo Ochoa Centre Excellence” grant (CEX2019-000928-S)Peer reviewe
Demographic Analysis of the Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malacelmys Terrapin (Schoepff 1793)) in Connecticut
No full textMalaclemys terrapin terrapin (northern diamondback terrapin) is the only turtle species in North America that primarily occupies brackish habitat. It is recognized as a keystone species because it helps maintain a sustainable estuarine ecosystem. Very little is known about the population size, demographics, and distribution of M. t. terrapin across coastal Connecticut. Using intensive trapping, I explored the status and threats of the Connecticut population of M. t. terrapin. I sampled nine subpopulations of M. t. terrapin representing diverse habitats along the Connecticut coast. Baited hoop nets and opportunistic catches were used for M. t. terrapin mark and recapture sampling between May - August of 2022 and 2023. Location, sex, and morphological data were recorded for 1,809 M. t. terrapins. The population of M. t. terrapin in Connecticut has a greater abundance of females compared to males, and subpopulations of M. t. terrapin consist of varying estimated population size and variable morphological characteristics, including subpopulations with significantly smaller female shell length and body mass. This study explores possible explanations for this variation
New record of Hyachelia tortugae Barnard, 1967, an amphipod epibiont on green turtles Chelonia mydas (LINNAEUS, 1758) from Gorgona island (colombian pacific)
No full textObjetivos: Caracterizar los anfípodos recolectados en lavados esofágicos de la tortuga verde Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758). Alcance: Incremento de la caracterización de la diversidad de un grupo poco estudiado, pero de gran importancia en ambientes bentónicos, en Colombia. Metodología: Los anfípodos fueron recolectados a partir de lavados esofágicos realizados a 77 juveniles de tortuga verde entre febrero y diciembre 2012 en Isla Gorgona, Pacífico Colombiano. Principales resultados: Se reporta por primera vez para el Pacífico Colombiano el anfípodo Hyachelia tortugae Barnard, 1967, una especie que se encuentra exclusivamente como epibionte de tortugas marinas. Se registraron tres individuos en total de H. tortugae en dos de las tortugas analizadas. Adicionalmente, los anfípodos hipéridos Paralycaea gracilis Claus, 1879, Schizoscelus ornatus Claus, 1879 y Parascelus sp. fueron registrados en los contenidos esofágicos de las tortugas. Conclusiones: Este trabajo resalta la necesidad de implementarestudios sistemáticos que permitan caracterizar la fauna asociada a tortugas marinas en el Pacífico colombiano.Objectives: Characterize the amphipods collected in esophageal lavages of the green turtle Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758). Scope: Increase the characterization of diversity of a poorly known group, but of great importance in benthic environments, in Colombia. Methodology: Amphipods were collected from esophageal lavages carried out on 77 green turtles between February and December 2012 at Gorgona Island, Colombian Pacific. Main results: We report the occurrence of the amphipod Hyachelia tortugae Barnard, 1967, a species that lives exclusively as an epibiont of sea turtles, for the first time for the Colombian Pacific. Three H. tortugae individuals occurred in two of the analyzed turtles. The hyperiid amphipods Paralycaea gracilis Claus, 1879, Schizoscelus ornatus Claus, 1879, and Parascelus sp. were also collected in the esophageal contents of the turtles. Conclusions: This study highlights that systematic studies should be carried out to characterize the associated fauna in sea turtles in the Colombian Pacific
