Sea Turtle Physical Examination Part 1: Eyes-Ears-Nose-Throat

Authored by experts in the field: Terry Norton, DACZM, Director/Founder of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and Jeanette Wyneken, PhD, this article is part of a unique series on sea turtle veterinary medicine and wildlife rehabilitation. Physical examination of the head and neck are covered including eyes, adnexa, ears, nares, beak, the oral exam, throat, and cervical vertebrae. Normal findings that reflect adaptations to a marine lifestyle are reviewed and unique findings seen in green (Chelonia mydas), flatback (Natator depressus), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea . . .


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References

Barrows M, McArthur S, Wilkinson: Diagnosis. In: McArthur S, Wilkinson R, & Meyer J (eds). Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and Turtles. Ames, IA:Blackwell Publishing;2004:109-140

Bowen BW, Karl SA. Population genetics and phylogeography of sea turtles. Molecular Ecology 16(23):4886-4907, 2007.

Norton TM. Chelonian emergency and critical care. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine 14(2):106-130, 2005.

Norton TM. Sea turtle rehabilitation. In: Miller RE, Fowler M (eds). Fowler’s Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Current Therapy Volume 7. St. Louis, MO:Elsevier Saunders;2012: 239-246.

Schwenk K. Comparative anatomy and physiology of chemical senses in nonavian aquatic reptiles. In: Thewissen JGM, Nummela S (eds). Sensory Evolution on the Threshold: Adaptations in Secondarily Aquatic Vertebrates. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press;2008:67.

Wyneken J. The Anatomy of Sea Turtles. US Department of Commmerce NOAA Technical Memorandum. NMFS-SEFSC-470, 1-172, 2001.

Wyneken J, Mader DR, Weber ES, Merigo C. Medical care of sea turtles. In: Mader DR (ed): Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Philadelphia, PA:WB Saunders;2006:972-1007.

Further reading

Flint M, Limpus CJ, Patterson-Kane JC, et al. Corneal fibropapillomatosis in green sea turtles in Australia. J Comp Pathol 142(4):341-346, 2010.

Jones MEH, Werneburg I, Curtis N, et al. The head and neck anatomy of sea turtles (Cryptodira: Chelonioidea) and skull shape in Testudines. PLoS ONE 7(11): e47852. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0047852, 2012.

Miller DL, Wyneken J, Rajeev S, et al. Pathologic findings in hatchling and posthatchling leatherback sea turtles from Florida. J Wildl Dis 45(4):962-971, 2009.

University of Florida Diagnostic Laboratories. Sea turtle necropsy and biopsy techniques. Available at http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/sacs/wildlife/resear.html. Accessed on September 5, 2013.

To cite this page:

Norton T, Wyneken J. Sea turtle physical examination part 1: Eyes, ears, nose, throat. November 15, 2014. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/sea-turtle-physical-examination-part-1-eyes-ears-nose-throat/