Growth rings in young turtles Emys orbicularis - marking is the only reliable criterion for distinguishing between wild and headstarted animals

Author: Mitrus, Sławomir

Source: The Herpetological Journal, Volume 19, Number 2, April 2009 , pp. 107-109(3)

Publisher: British Herpetological Society

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Abstract:

In 2006, 11 wild and 16 headstarted European pond turtles Emys orbicularis, that hatched in the years 1997-2001 and were marked during previous studies, were recaptured in central Poland. Wild turtles produced one growth ring per year, although variations were observed in headstarted individuals. Some headstarted turtles presented a pattern in which some of the growth rings were composed of false rings. Such a pattern was not observed in wild individuals. However, the growth ring pattern alone is not a reliable criterion for distinguishing between wild and headstarted turtles after being released into the wild.

Keywords: AGE ESTIMATION; EUROPEAN POND TURTLE; FRESHWATER TURTLES; HEADSTARTING

Document Type: Short communication

Publication date: 2009-04-01

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The Herpetological Journal is an international scientific journal that publishes papers on the natural history of amphibians and reptiles. Experimental, observational and theoretical studies are published along with reviews and book reviews. Faunistic lists, letters and results of general surveys are not published unless they shed light on herpetological problems of wider significance.
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