This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
How do you find out why a 1.5-meter-long endangered sea turtle is having epileptic fits? The first step is to find an MRI machine big enough to accommodate her not-so-ladylike girth.
On June 25, "Snorkel," a 68-kilogram loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), traveled more than 500 kilometers from her home at National Marine Aquarium (NMA) in Plymouth, England, to Cheltenham Imaging Center, home of one the country's first open-bore MRI machines. These machines have larger openings than traditional MRI systems, which are too small for massive animals like loggerheads.
Snorkel, now in her mid-20s, has been experiencing seizures for the past five years. Vets have partially controlled the seizures with medication, but the cause has remained unknown. Her handlers suspected she might have cancer or a brain tumor. Snorkel is also mostly blind, has a deformed spine, and has troubles with buoyancy.
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Although scans are still being analyzed, fears of a brain tumor appear unfounded. "Early indications are that she does not have a brain tumor," NMA senior biologist James Wright told ThisIsCornwall.co.uk. "Our vet could not see anything wrong but is taking the results to a specialist radiologist so we should know for sure soon." They did, however, find that she was carrying a clutch of infertile eggs, which may have been in her body for several years.
Snorkel was back in her tank by the end of the day and went be back on display July 4.
Loggerhead sea turtles were once heavily hunted for their meat, and their eggs are still collected, usually illegally, for use as an aphrodisiac (a treatment that has no scientific basis). The turtles are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species as well as laws in several countries.
The Sun has video of Snorkel's travels and the MRI scan at their web site.
Photo: A loggerhead turtle by Upendra Kanda via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons license
