The Herpetological Journal

pp.280-284

Authors: Z. N. Mah Moud And D. A. El Naiem

Abstract: Changes in morphometrics and body weight during growth was deduced from observations of individual Testudo sulcata of known age. A strong positive correlation was found to exist between plastron width (r = 0.97), carapace length (r = 0.94), carapace width (r = 0.94), body weight (r = 0.99) and plastron length. Changes in morphometrics and body weight during growth in their first year of life has been investigated. The tortoises increased in size at a rate of 1 .3764 x 1 0-3mm day-1 (plastron length), 1 .0992 x J 0-3mm day- 1 (plastron width), 1 .5273 x J 0-3mm day- 1 (carapace length), 1 .4206 x J 0-3mm day- I (carapace width) and 5.45 19 x J 0-3g day- I (body weight). The values of the intercept (a), regression coefficient (b) and instantaneous growth rate (K) were calculated for T. sulcata and from similar growth data in the literature. Their relation to morphological changes in tortoises and turtles have been discussed.