Turtles 



vation of specimens in various orientations to the bedding planes (Fig. 1), vari- 

 ous degrees of disarticulation, and the occasional mixing of individual elements. 

 An articulated Emydoidea blandingii specimen preserved in its life position with 

 axial skeletal elements inside, indicates little or no decay prior to its final burial 

 (Fig. 2). This preservation suggests the turtle was buried quickly in a high ener- 

 gy, high sedimentation environment (Brett and Speyer 1990), resulting in burial 

 deep enough to avoid reworking during subsequent episodic events. Several 

 articulated turtles were collected with limbs and skulls preserved within the 

 shells in various orientations to the bedding plane. A high energy hydrological 

 environment before or shortly after death would likely explain the various orien- 

 tations observed in well preserved specimens. Retention and preservation of 

 limb elements, cervical and caudal vertebrae, and skulls inside the shell may 

 reflect a withdrawal by the turtles in response to a catastrophic event. 



Fig. 1 Emydoidea blandingii, only the carapace (.547) was preserved, ventral 

 side up (side view), among clay clasts from the surrounding Harleyville Forma- 

 tion. This illustrates the hydrodynamic effect upon some specimens prior to final 

 burial. 





