Food acquisition, feeding, and growth in moist terrestrial laboratory conditions were compared in 2 species of turtles that inhabit brackish water environments. Malaclemys hatchlings showed normal growth, but Chelydra hatchlings became severely stressed. The results suggest that the extended use of terrestrial habitats as a means of osmoregulation in high salinity habitats is a viable adaptive strategy for diamondback terrapin but not for snapping turtle hatchlings.
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1 August 2008
Observations on Terrestrial Feeding Behavior and Growth in Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys) and Snapping Turtle (Chelydra) Hatchlings
Joseph J. Kinneary
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Chelonian Conservation and Biology
Vol. 7 • No. 1
August 2008
Vol. 7 • No. 1
August 2008