Carapace anomalies of pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) from the Poleski National Park, from the hatch of 2008

Elżbieta Kosik

Department of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin

Mariusz Wójcik

Department of Ecology of Wildlife Management University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin

Sławomir Beeger

Department of Ecology of Wildlife Management University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin

Iwona Rozempolska-Rucińska

Department of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin



Abstract

The territory of the Poleski National Park is one of the most populous stands of pond turtle Emys orbicularis (L., 1758) in Poland. In the turtles one can observe deviations from the typical structure of the shell, usually in the form of extra scutes or absence of typical scutes. The objective of the study was to estimate the kinds of anomalies and the frequency of their occurrence in European pond turtles from the hatch of 2008, kept at the European Pond Turtle Protection Centre at the Park facilities. In total, 441 individuals of the turtles were kept at the Centre, among which in 69 individuals (15.6%) carapace anomalies were found, and in the case of certain indi-viduals several kinds of anomalies occurred simultaneously.

Keywords:

European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, carapace anomalies, Polesie National Park

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Published
2013-03-31



Elżbieta Kosik 
Department of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
Mariusz Wójcik 
Department of Ecology of Wildlife Management University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
Sławomir Beeger 
Department of Ecology of Wildlife Management University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
Iwona Rozempolska-Rucińska 
Department of Biological Bases of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin



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