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Bone damage in Allopleuron hofmanni (Cheloniidae, Late Cretaceous)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2014

R. Janssen*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
R.R. van Baal
Affiliation:
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
A.S. Schulp
Affiliation:
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, De Bosquetplein 6-7, 6211 KJ Maastricht, the Netherlands Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands

Abstract

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We describe pathologies and post-mortem damage observed in specimens of the late Maastrichtian marine cheloniid turtle Allopleuron hofmanni. Shallow circular lesions on carapace bones are common and possibly illustrate barnacle attachment/embedment. Deep, pit-like marks are confined to the neural rim and the inner surface of peripheral elements; these may have been caused either by barnacle attachment or disease. A number of linear marks found on outer carapace surfaces are identified as tooth marks of scavengers, others as possible domichnia of boring bivalves. A fragmentary scapula and prescapular process displays radular traces of molluscs (gastropods and/or polyplacophorans; ichnogenus Radulichnus). These diverse types of bone damage suggest both live and dead marine turtles to have been commonly utilised by predators, scavengers and encrusters in the type Maastrichtian marine ecosystem.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2013

Footnotes

In: Mulder, E.W.A., Jagt, J.W.M. & Schulp, A.S. (eds): The Sunday's child of Dutch earth sciences – a tribute to Bert Boekschoten on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

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