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Marine Turtle Newsletter 49:16-17, © 1990

Sea Turtle Parts Wanted for Age Determination Studies

George R. Zug
Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History,
Washington D.C. 20560 USA

Skeletochronology has proved useful in estimating age in Caretta caretta and Lepidochelys kempii. I wish to extend my studies to other sea turtle species from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America and am requesting the assistance of individuals salvaging sea turtles on these coasts. Specifically, I need right humeri of Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata with a copy of the stranding data sheet for each humerus. Humeri may be stored in 10% formalin (buffered) or dried. For Dermochelys coriacea, I wish the right humerus and femur as well as the right and left eyeballs. Eyeballs should be stored in 10% formalin; please slit them in the area of the optic nerve to permit the penetration of formalin for proper preservation.

We are most desirous of obtaining whole-preserved juvenile Dermochelys for the National Museum herpetological collection. If you find a "reasonably" fresh Dermochelys carcass with a carapace length < 45 cm, please place it in a refrigerator (not freezer) and call me or Bob Reynolds immediately (202-357-2778) for instructions on preservation and/or to arrange for us to pick up the turtle (USFWS permit no. 684154). We are potentially interested in larger leatherbacks (fresh), so please don't discard these without calling us.