Bone damage in Allopleuron hofmanni (Cheloniidae, Late Cretaceous)

Abstract

We describe pathologies and post-mortem damage observed in specimens of the late Maastrichtian marine cheloniid turtle Allopleuron hofmanni. Shallow circular lesions on carapace bones are common and possibly illustrate barnacle attachment/embedment. Deep, pit-like marks are confined to the neural rim and the inner surface of peripheral elements; these may have been caused either by barnacle attachment or disease. A number of linear marks found on outer carapace surfaces are identified as tooth marks of scavengers, others as possible domichnia of boring bivalves. A fragmentary scapula and prescapular process displays radular traces of molluscs (gastropods and/or polyplacophorans; ichnogenus Radulichnus). These diverse types of bone damage suggest both live and dead marine turtles to have been commonly utilised by predators, scavengers and encrusters in the type Maastrichtian marine ecosystem.