Dem bones
For those of you who are lucky enough to participate in a sea turtle stranding network, you probably know what particular bones these are. The bones in the photo are from 3 different species of sea turtle and from different age classes. They are being used for a specific line of research. Anyone care to guess the name of these bones, and what they will be used for? For more help, you might try looking here. Answer to follow next week….
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Am I allowed to guess?
Posted by: Michael | November 17, 2003 08:54 AM
I'm pretty sure I know because they filled up our freezer back at BHIC :o)--I believe they are the humerus bones of sea turtles (loggerheads?). Specifically, sea turtle bones grow outward instead of longways so you can look at the rings of a cross-section of the bones to get the age--kind of like the rings on a tree. ~Maybe?~
Posted by: Lauren | November 17, 2003 12:03 PM
Being more of an ornithologist and having archived any knowledge of vertebrate anatomy many years ago, I know relatively little about sea turtles and much less about their skeletal anatomy. However, I reviewed The Anatomy of Sea Turtles (thanks for the link) and have made a decision. The femur and humerus bones initially appeared very similar to me but after a more careful examination, I decided that the bones in your photo are humerus bones due to the enlarged medial process and presence of a deltoid crest. I have no idea what they will be used for but I like the ageing suggestion posted earlier by Lauren.
Posted by: Peeps | November 18, 2003 02:44 PM
Can I guess? I think I have a pretty good idea of what they're for...
P.S. I think there are only 3 species pictured. :)
Posted by: Larisa | November 19, 2003 09:17 AM
Thanks for the corrections, Larisa: bones of only three species are shown in the photo.
Posted by: matthew | November 19, 2003 12:01 PM
Drumroll......
The answer is: HUMERI
Ta-da, everyone wins!
Posted by: matthew | November 25, 2003 04:31 PM