Research Training Program

Stephen J. Luzar
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, Minnesota

George R. Zug, Ph.D.
Project Advisor
Department of Vertebrate Zoology
Division of Reptiles and Amphibians

"The contents of the program were well organized, well balanced, and complete."

Age and Growth in Wild Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii): Skeletochronological Data

Ages have been estimated for the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle using bones from stranded animals. Skeletochronology utilizing two different protocols, in conjunction with growth equations, allows graphical illustration of the data in statistically meaningful ways. The estimated ages for sexually mature Kemp's Ridleys using the ranking and regression protocols yielded approximate minimum to mean age ranges of 9 to 11 and 24 to 30 years, respectively.

This research was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Women's Committee.