Weights of ornate box turtles varied so much that no attempt was made to correlate weight with size. Absolute weights have little significance since weight is affected to a large extent by the amount of fluid in the body. Turtles that had recently imbibed were naturally heavier than those that had not; turtles brought to the laboratory and kept there for several days lost weight by evaporation and by voiding water. Weights of 22 adult females (53 records) and 10 adult males (22 records) averaged 391 and 353 grams respectively, in the period from September, 1954, to October, 1956. Females characteristically gained weight in spring and early summer and were lighter after nesting. Turtles of both sexes gained weight in September and October.
Bony Shell
Fontanelles
At the time of hatching, fontanelles remain where bones of the shell have not yet articulated with their neighbors. In general, the fontanelles of the shell are closed by the time sexual maturity is attained, but some remain open a year or two longer.
The fontanelles of the shell are classified as follows (see Figs. [14 to 16] and [18 to 19]):
Plastron
1.) Anteromedian. Rhomboidal; limited anteriorly by hyoplastral bones and posteriorly by hypoplastral bones; posterior tip of entoplastral bone may project into this fontanelle.
2.) Posteromedian. Limited anteriorly by hypoplastral bones and posteriorly by xiphyplastral bones (since hypoplastral bones do not articulate medially in hatchlings, anteromedian and posteromedian fontanelles form a single, more or less dumbbell-shaped opening).
