Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Moore, J. A., & Dornburg, A. (2014). Ingestion of fossil seashells, stones and small mammal bones by gravid gopher tortoises (gopherus polyphemus) in south florida. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, 55(1), 55–63.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:17:10 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article DOI: ttp://dx.doi.org/10.3374/014.055.0105 BibTeX citation key: Moore2014 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Chelidae, Chelodina longicollis, Ernährung - nutrition, Fortpflanzung - reproduction, Habitat - habitat, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises Creators: Dornburg, Moore Collection: Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae Gopherus polyphemus Instances of vertebrates supplementing their diets through the ingestion of gastroliths have been observed or documented in numerous organisms, including birds, crocodiles and dinosaurs. Although not uncommon, this behavior can be motivated by a wide range of factors that include endoparasite removal, stomach cleaning, or calcium supplementation during eggshell formation. As plant-based diets are often mineral deficient, the use of gastroliths as calcium supplements may play an important role in the reproductive biology of egg-laying herbivorous reptiles. Whereas gravid females of some species of herbivorous reptiles have been shown to seek out calcareous gastroliths, the occurrence or prevalence of gastroliths in gravid females remains unknown for many species. Using field observations and radiographs, we studied patterns of gastrolith ingestion by adult female gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), a herbivorous species of testudinoid turtles. Gastroliths documented included fossil seashells, calcareous stones and carnivore feces containing vertebrate bones. The prevalence of gastroliths was significantly different between gravid and non-gravid tortoises. We suggest this behavior is a means of supplementing calcium intake during eggshell formation and may play a part in the female reproductive biology of this species.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |