Terms and Abbreviations

Air Temperature (AT)

– Temperature of the air.

Body Mass (BM)

– Body mass of the turtle.

Body Temperature (BT)

– Body temperature of the turtle.

Captive Bred (CB)

– A turtle that was bred and/or hatched in captivity. (Also sometimes abbreviated as CBB.)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

– Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Curved Carapace Length (CCL)

– The length of the carapace of a turtle measured on the curved dome of the carapace.

U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)

– U.S. Endangered Species Act

Environmental/Ambient Temperature (ET)

– Temperature of the ambient environment.

Genetic Sex Determination (GSD)

– Sex of the turtle is determined by genetics, not temperature.

Incubation Period (IP)

– The period of time for which an egg is incubated.

Incubation Temperature (IT)

– The temperature at which an egg is incubated.

Long Term Captive (LTC)

– A turtle that was originally taken from the wild, but has been in captivity for a minimum of 12 months.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

– The DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Most other DNA present in eukaryotic organisms is found in the cell nucleus.

Nuclear DNA (nDNA)

– DNA contained within a nucleus of eukaryotic organisms. In mammals and other vertebrates, nuclear DNA encodes more of the genome than the mitochondrial DNA and is composed of information inherited from two parents, one male, and one female, rather than matrilineally.

Plastron Length (PL)

– The length of the plastron of a turtle on its longest line.

Straight-line Carapace Length (SCL)

-The length of the carapace of a turtle measured on its longest straight line, as if it were flat.

Temperature-Dependant Sex Determination (TSD)

– Sex of the turtle is based on the temperature it is incubated at. There are 3 types of TSD.

Temperature-Dependant Sex Determination, Type 1a (TSD-1a)

– Sex of the turtle is determined by the temperature it is incubated at. Type 1a has one transition zone and one pivotal incubation temperature. Males are produced below this temperature and females above.

Temperature-Dependant Sex Determination, Type 1b (TSD-1b)

– Sex of the turtle is determined by the temperature it is incubated at. Type 1b has one transition zone and one pivotal incubation temperature. Males are produced above this temperature and females below.

Temperature-Dependant Sex Determination, Type 2 (TSD-2)

– Sex of the turtle is determined by the temperature it is incubated at. Type 2 has two transition zones and two pivotal incubation temperatures. Males are produced in between the two transition temperatures and females at the two extremes.

Water Temperature (WT)

– Temperature of the water.

Wild Caught (WC)

– A turtle that was taken from the wild.