Is there dwarfism in turtles?

Question

Okay here's why I asked this: I've been enjoying catching and releasing turtles since I was a little girl. My friends, family and I started a tradition wear we'd paint their plastrons with unique symbols made from nail polish, so we'd recognize them if we'd catch 'em again. Some markings last longer than others. Besides natural wear, I figured that some lasted longer than others because if the turtle was still growing bigger, it's shell would get bigger and stretch the nail polish making it crack off. This one Blanding's turtle we've been catching for over the past five years and his markings are still there! He's obviously done growing. But there's this one little painted turtle I caught this year that's no bigger than it was last year, and the marking looked as new as it did last year. But the turtle looked pretty little and looked like it should have grown some. Maybe it's a "midget" turtle?

Answer 1

cool question!

no reptiles do not suffer from dwarfism in the true sense that humans do

but they can have retarded or stunted growth due to stress or poor food etc either when they are in the egg or subsequent to that

Answer 2

Reptiles grow more when there's more space and they retard they growth when space is limited. Since your turtles are free, you have to assume other turtles are getting the bigger areas and this particular one is owner of a bordered area.

Also food shortage gives them small growths.

Answer 3

Could be, or he's not getting nutrition like the others. Maybe he swallowed a piece of plastic or something.

Answer 4

maybe...its possible.....or it could be the species