Morphological and Radiologic Features of the Skull of a Juvenile Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas, Linnaeus, 1758) from Saint Kitts and Nevis, West Indies

The skull of a juvenile <i>Chelonia mydas</i> from the beaches of Saint Kitts and Nevis is described using high-resolution photographs and multi-angle radiographs to document the main cranial structures. Standard veterinary anatomical terminology was used, and osteometric measurements were obtained and compared with published data on adult individuals. The investigated juvenile green turtle skull comprises three main regions: the neurocranium, splanchnocranium, and mandible. Noteworthy features include a paired premaxilla at the snout tip, a prominent L-shaped maxilla forming much of the upper jaw, and a robust parietal bone at the skull's apex. Additional observations include the presence of a lacrimal foramen and a distinct crest on the exoccipital bone. As the study is constrained by reliance on a single juvenile specimen, the findings should be interpreted as preliminary rather than as strong indicators of the population. Morphometric data suggest the juvenile skull reaches about 40% of adult size. Measurements show somewhat greater growth in the posterior region than in the anterior region, which might imply later development or changes in the feeding structures of the skull. Overall cranial proportions remain consistent during growth. Because the metrical study relies on a single juvenile specimen, findings should be interpreted as preliminary rather than as strong indicators of the population. These results, combined, may serve as an entry point for future taxonomic, evolutionary, and clinical research, as comprehensive anatomical knowledge of both local and migratory species, such as <i>Chelonia mydas</i>, is essential for conservation initiatives, veterinary diagnostics, and the study of adaptive morphological changes in isolated island ecosystems.