Figure 8:  


Fig. 8A.  286 g male, Jul 2004, at end of 24 mo indoor headstart.

Fig. 8B.  Same male as 8A, age 48 mo, Jul 2006, 308g. Color in sun-exposed region of carapace after 24 mo outdoors is obvious.  Transmitter cap removal in Apr 2006 allowed insolation of the region of carapace between the cap-anchoring flaps to belatedly begin.  Note that color development seen in this photo has already begun to diminish the pigment deficit in previously shaded vertebral scutes 4 and 5 after only 3 mo exposure to sun.

Fig. 8C.  Same male, aged 62 mo, Sep 2007, 400 g.  Color development, in previously shaded zone, now well advanced 17 mo after cap was removed.

Fig. 8D.  Same male, age 74 mo, Sep 2008, 462 g.  Color development in previously shaded zone, now virtually complete 29 mo after cap was removed.

8A 300w  8B 300w 8C 300  8D 300

Note: Click on any image for full size resolution.

Back to the article Photo-dependent localized color development in the eastern box turtle carapace.
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