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Skeletal development of the spiny softshell turtle

Abstract:

Turtles have skeletal features that are very different from other tetrapods. Nonetheless, ontogenetic studies of their osteology are rare. Upon examination of 48 specimens, the author described in detail the osteology and skeletal development of the spiny softshell turtle Apalone spinifera and compared his results with published data of other turtles, as well as other reptilian taxa. Embryos were collected as eggs from a commercial turtle farm and incubated in the laboratory. Eggs were sampled at 3-4 day intervals, and developmental stages of embryos were determined with external morphological criteria. Data were obtained from skeletons and cleared and stained specimens. The author compared the chondrocranium of the spiny softshell turtle with chondrocrania of Emys orbicularis and Caretta caretta. In addition, differences and similarities in sequence and patterns of ossification between A. spinifera and Chelydra …