Blood serum cholesterol levels in turtles

Studies on the Evolution of Box Turtles (Genus Terrapene)

“…The presence of three toes on each hind foot further distinguish es triunguis from carolina, major and yucatana; the smooth or only slightly concave plastron of males from bauri, carolina, mator, and putnami; and the small size from maior, mexileana, putnami, and !/ucatana. Jackson and Legendre ( 1967) have shown a higher level of blood serum cholestero l in major than in triunguis, but additional studies are needed to determine the usefulness of this observation as a taxonomic character. The number of specimens they examined was very small, and there is some evidence that the differences may be dietary rather than hereditary.…”