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Osteological differences in the humerus of loggerhead and green turtles
Il-Kook Park1, Suhwan Yoon2, Hae Rim Lee3
1Marine Biodiversity Division, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon, Republic of South Korea.
Peerj
|April 27, 2026
Summary
Loggerhead and green sea turtles exhibit distinct humerus bone structures related to their unique swimming styles and migration patterns. These differences in bone morphology highlight adaptations for efficient locomotion and habitat use in marine environments.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Comparative Anatomy
- Vertebrate Paleontology
Background:
- Sea turtles utilize fore flippers for aquatic locomotion, with the humerus being a key bone connecting the shoulder to the flipper.
- Understanding humerus morphology is crucial for deciphering sea turtle swimming strategies and habitat utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the morphological traits of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtle humeri.
- To investigate interspecific differences in humerus anatomy between these two species.
Main Methods:
- Sea turtle carcasses were collected from strandings and bycatch in Korean waters.
- Measurements of carapace, plastron, and 15 humeral segments were taken from the left humerus.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare morphological traits and correlate them with carapace length.
Main Results:
- Humerus length and width showed a positive linear correlation with carapace length in both species.
- Significant interspecific differences were observed in 12 humeral segments.
- Loggerhead turtles possess longer, thinner humeri toward the shoulder compared to green turtles.
Conclusions:
- Humerus morphology can estimate sea turtle carapace size.
- Distinct humerus structures in loggerhead and green turtles reflect adaptations to different locomotion strategies and migration patterns.
- Bone structure variation among closely related species is influenced by habitat and environmental exploitation strategies.
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