I.D..#:_________________________________________
(Stranding Reference)
Sea Turtle Necropsy Report
(printable necropsy report - you will need adobe acrobat reader, get it free here)
Observer's Name _________________________________________________________________________
Species (codes)   Loggerhead (CC)   Green (CM)   Leatherback (DC)   Hawksbill (EI)
  Kemp's Ridley (LK)   Olive Ridley (LO)   Unknown (UN)
Estimated age class _____hatchling    _____post hatchling    _____juvenile    _____adult    _____other
Date found_______________    Time found_______________    (international time - i.e. 9:00, 21:00)
Stranding Location      Latitude _________________________
     Longitude _________________________
Descriptive Location (include state, county and specific locality) _____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOUND DEAD____________________ FOUND ALIVE____________________
FOR TURTLES FOUND ALIVE:
     Clinical Condition: ______________________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________________________
     Physical Exam Findings: __________________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________________________
     Treatment: ____________________________________________________________________________
Manner of Death:  _____Spontaneous _____Euthanized _____Accidental/ traumatic _____Unknown
Date died____________________ Time died ____________________
Euthanasia method___________________ 
Necropsy date_________________________
Necropsy time_________________________
Necropsy Condition Code 1 (Fresh dead) Code 2 (Moderately decomposed)
Code 3 (Severely decomposed) Code 4 (Dried carcass)
Code 5 (Skeleton)
Person(s) conducting necropsy___________________________________________________________________ 
________________________________________________________________________________
Other Information _____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Measurements
Taken with calipers 
Taken with flexible tape
SCL:notch-tip __________ cm / inches      CCL:notch-tip __________ cm / inches
SCL:notch-notch __________ cm / inches      CCL: notch-notch __________ cm / inches
SCL:tip-tip __________ cm / inches      CCL: tip-tip __________ cm / inches
Straight Width __________ cm / inches      Curved width __________ cm / inches
Head Width  __________ cm / inches      Circumference __________ cm / inches
Plastron Length __________ cm / inches      Body Depth __________ cm / inches

 

Sea Turtle Necropsy Sample Checklist


Sample		 Test
Histoa
Parasite
Bact/Fungb
Virol/Seroc
Chem Tox.d
Bio Tox.e
Life Hist.f
Storage Location
Sample Distribution
(where and when sent)
CODE 1                  
Carapace .......................            
Plastron .........
     
 
   
Skin .............................
 
 
  
 
  
Head/skull .....................
         
   
Bone/joint.........................
         
   
Muscle ...........................
     
   
                   
Trachea .......................... 
 
         
Lung .............................. 
 
      
Thyroid .......................... 
               
Parathyroid ......
               
Thymus ........................
   
         
Heart .............................. 
           
Heart Vessels ................ 
             
Spleen ...........................
 
     
Blood  .........  
         
Bone Marrow ......
               
                   
Oral Cavity ......
               
Tongue ........
               
Esophagus .................... 
             
Coelomic cavity fluid ..
 
     
Liver .............................. 
     
Gallbladder ...................
             
Bile ..........    
     
Stomach ........................
             
Stomach  CONTENTS ..
     
   
Pancreas ....................... 
               
Intestine/SMALL .......... 
 
         
Intestine/LARGE .......... 
 
         
Intestinal CONTENTS ..
     
     
Cloaca ........
               
                   
Adrenals ........................
               
Kidney ...........................
 
     
Urinary bladder .............
             
Urine..........    
     
Gonads, ducts ..............
     
 
   
                   
Fat .................................
     
     
Brain ...............................
   
     
Cerebral Spinal Fluid  (CSF)    
     
Pituitary ..........................
               
Spinal Cord ....................
       
     
Peripheral nerves...                 
Salt gland.........
               
Eyes..........
               
Vitreous..........    
     
aHistology; bBacteriology/mycology; cVirology/serology; dChemical toxicants; eBiotoxins;  fLife history.

Sample Storage Chronology (Storage technique, freeze-thaw cycles (times), where tissues were sent, etc.)
 
What was done   Date
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________

Sea Turtle Necropsy Sample Checklist


Sample
Test
Histoa
Parasite
Bact/Fungb
Virol/ Seroc
Chem Tox.d
 Bio- tox.e
Life hist.f
 Storage Location
Sample Distribution
Code 2-3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carapace .......................
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plastron .......
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Head/skull ..................... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bone .............................. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stomach  CONTENTS ..
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Code 4-5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carapace .......................
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plastron
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Head/skull .....................
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bone ..............................
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adapted from Sample Necropsy Report  in Marine Mammals Ashore: A Field Guide for Strandings (from Geraci and Lounsbury, 1993)

Sample Storage Chronology (Storage technique, freeze-thaw cycles (times), where tissues were sent, etc.)
 
What was done   Date
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
Ancillary diagnostics:
Photos Radiographs/X-ray Other Imaging___________________
Where taken / stored? 
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Blood* Green top tube - lithium heparin - for complete blood count 
Red Top tube - no anticoagulant -for biochemicals
blood film
Tissue Samples and Fluids: 
Chemistry Bacteriology Virology
Mycology Other_________
Cytology/Impression smears: fixed unfixed
What / Where analyzed?   Date
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
___________________________________   _______________
Stored samples: Foreign bodies: Bullet  Stomach contents Monofilament  Hooks
Tar Balloon Plastic Other ___________________
Where stored?_________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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