DISARTICULATION OF TURTLE SHELLS IN NORTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA - HOW LONG DOES A SHELL REMAIN IN THE WOODS

From 1985 through 1991, I examined and categorized the sequential shel l disarticulation patterns of 80 turtle specimens, representing six sp ecies and three families, in N-central Florida. Shells were allowed to disarticulate on land under natural environmental conditions. Turtle shells were observed from 5-54 mo. Based on examinations of photos, ni ne stages of disarticulation were identified. Although it is relativel y easy to classify turtle shells into disarticulation stages, the amou nt of time between death and shell discovery cannot be determined prec isely due to individual and species-specific variation in disarticulat ion rates. Shells do not necessarily pass sequentially through well-de fined disarticulation stages. In general, shells of the most commonly observed species, Gopherus polyphemus, Pseudemys nelsoni and P. florid ana, routinely remained intact from 12-30 mo, depending on species. Sh ells usually disarticulated completely by 40 mo or longer.