Blood profiles from wild populations of green sea turtles in Taiwan

Abstract

Blood samples were obtained from twenty seven clinically healthy bycatched green turtles (Chelonia mydas). The 
packed cell volume (PCV) and 14 plasma biochemistry parameters were determined from these samples. The PCV 
values were lower in sub-adult green turtles than in the adults while the plasma AST concentration was higher in the 
sub -adults than in the adults. These variations may be due to the age of the turtle and the period of the year when 
the samples were taken. The results of this study provide the first plasma biochemistry baseline profiles for free
ranging green sea turtles in Taiwan.