作者: Colleen T. Downs , Céline Hanzen , Cormac Price
DOI: 10.1007/S00435-021-00518-4
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摘要: Little is documented on the population demographics and morphometrics of wild freshwater turtles (hereafter terrapins) in South Africa. From February 2016 to October 2019, we trapped recorded morphometric biological data for serrated hinged terrapins Pelusios sinuatus (n = 97) marsh Pelomedusa galeata (n = 51) KwaZulu-Natal Province, We visited two areas (Ndumo Game Reserve Tala Private Reserve) regularly during study period. Data were also intermittently obtained from eight other across province. age class, (including carapace length, width, body mass sex) each terrapin caught, noted injuries. uniquely marked all captured peripheral scutes around hindleg region carapace, so record any recaptures. A size-class bias was observed, with most individuals being large mature adults. Juveniles P. only accounted 11 total 97 (11.3%). 4 51 (7.8%). There significant differences three main variables between adult male female sinuatus, whereas there no morphological galeata. recaptured one a concern that continued anthropogenic pressures, changing land use, increased droughts are resulting skewed towards older, larger, more resilient individuals.