VOLUNTARY AND FORCED TERRESTRIAL LOCOMOTION IN JUVENILE AND ADULT PAINTED TURTLES, CHRYSEMYS-PICTA

The voluntary and forced locomotor performances of juvenile and adult painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) from two Ohio populations were exami ned using a laboratory racetrack with photocell-activated timers and a video recording system. Body size was correlated with many aspects of locomotion, but regardless of animal size, changes in stride frequenc y contributed more to increases in speed than did changes in stride le ngth. We extended the Froude number concept to predict the maximal spe eds of these turtles. Some individual animals approached their predict ed speed, but none surpassed it.