Author Type

Undergraduate Student

Date of Award

Summer 8-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

August 2026

College Granting Degree

Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Jeanette Wyneken

Abstract

Sea turtle shells are formed of modified ribs, which, structurally, are sandwich composites. Sandwich structures provide both physical protection and pressure response associated with diving at depth. Carapacial sutures, tight joints between adjacent bones, connect modified ribs with collagenous fibers. Previous research on freshwater turtle shells suggests that sinuous sutures (highly convoluted) enhance compression strength. Limited research explored the form and functional significance of sutures in marine turtles. To investigate suture morphology and potential ontogenetic effects, I analyzed sutures in green (Chelonia mydas), Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles. Samples from each species were scanned using micro-computed tomography and digitally analyzed in Dragonfly™ software to quantify suture sinuosity and span. I found that as body size increases, suture sinuosity and span decrease. These results suggest that sutures may promote rigidity in juveniles (high sinuosity) and later allow greater flexibility in adults (low sinuosity).

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