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1 December 2015 Growth, Sexual Maturity, and Reproduction of a Female Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) Afflicted with Kyphosis
Patrick D. Moldowan, Matthew G. Keevil, Nicola Koper, Ronald J. Brooks, Jacqueline D. Litzgus
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Abstract

Kyphosis, a congenital humpback condition of the spinal column, has been reported across a broad range of chelonian taxa. These reports are often of single observations and lack background information about the history of the animal(s) involved. A kyphotic female midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) reported herein is a member of a long-term mark–recapture study in Algonquin Park (Ontario, Canada), providing a unique opportunity to document life-history characters of a kyphotic turtle over 18 yrs and draw comparisons to other members of her cohort and population. Despite her spinal deformity, the somatic growth, body size, age at sexual maturity, and reproduction of the kyphotic female have been similar to those of nonkyphotic females in our long-term study population, suggesting that the condition has not compromised her fitness.

© 2015 Chelonian Research Foundation
Patrick D. Moldowan, Matthew G. Keevil, Nicola Koper, Ronald J. Brooks, and Jacqueline D. Litzgus "Growth, Sexual Maturity, and Reproduction of a Female Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) Afflicted with Kyphosis," Chelonian Conservation and Biology 14(2), 157-160, (1 December 2015). https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1147.1
Received: 5 February 2015; Accepted: 1 April 2015; Published: 1 December 2015
KEYWORDS
Algonquin Provincial Park
clutch size
egg size
fitness
life history
long-term data
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