The Development of Musk Glands in the Loggerhead Turtle

Authors

Frank A. Stromsten, The State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Research

Abstract

Musk glands were first described in turtles by Dr. William Peters in 1848, and independently, in the same year, by Rathke. The glands do not appear to be present in all turtles, but when present consist of one or two pairs according to the species of turtle. One pair is located at the anterolateral angles of the carapace, just beneath the peritoneum. The second pair, when present, is found at the posterolateral angles, one on each side. According to Peters, the secretion is a brownish, watery fluid, tasteless, but having a very penetrating odor. The glands are compared to the "Kieferdrüsen'' of Crocodiles (Mueller's Archives, 1848, 492-6).

Publication Date

1917

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

24

Issue

1

First Page

311

Last Page

313

Copyright

©1917 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Stromsten, Frank A. (1917) "The Development of Musk Glands in the Loggerhead Turtle," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 24(1), 311-313.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol24/iss1/48