Opening a turtle graveyard: Size distribution of dead individuals of Phrynops geoffroanus (Pleurodira, Chelidae)

Authors: Rodrigues, João Fabrício Country: Brazil DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.32.e35658 Published: Jan. 1, 2019 Source: Herpetozoa OpenAlex: View in OpenAlex

Collection: Pensoft Publishers

Keywords: body size · Topics: Turtle Biology and Conservation, Amphibian and Reptile Biology, Fish biology, ecology, and behavior

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Aquatic animals, such as freshwater turtles, are much dependent on the water bodies where they live. Here we describe the size distribution of a population of Phrynops geoffroanus complex that died after the total drought of the artificial water reservoir where it lived in Caatinga. Amongst the 438 animals we found dead in the Cedro water reservoir, we measured the maximum carapace length of 72 individuals. The population was mainly composed of adult individuals and dead turtles measured in areas that kept water for longer were larger than animals from areas that dried up early.

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