How do scientists determine how a turtle died?
Cause of death can be determined by conducting a necropsy. This is a turtles autopsy. By removing the outer shell of the turtle, the inner organs can be studied in detail. Although external trauma may be obvious through direct observation, e.g., shell breakage, limb amputation, bite marks, etc., necropsies allow observation of otherwise unseen, internal trauma, e.g., disease, refuse presence (plastic), etc.
Cause of death can be determined by conducting a necropsy. This is a turtles autopsy. By removing the outer shell of the turtle, the inner organs can be studied in detail. Although external trauma may be obvious through direct observation, e.g., shell breakage, limb amputation, bite marks, etc., necropsies allow observation of otherwise unseen, internal trauma, e.g., disease, refuse presence (plastic), etc.
