Table 1. Data collected for the three alligator individuals included in this study.
An asterisk appears next to measurements in which the outermost cyclical growth mark (CGM) was omitted from measurements. MOR, Museum of the Rockies, Montana, USA.
| Specimen number |
Element | Location | Left cortical area (mm2) |
Right cortical area (mm2) |
Left circumference (mm2) |
Right circumference (mm2) |
Average cortical thickness of left element (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MOR-OST
1648 |
Coracoid | Medullary cavity | 4.79 | 4.45 | 14.95 | 9.90 | – |
| Hatchling | 1.24 | 1.24 | 4.81 | 4.81 | – | ||
| CGM 1 | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 8.75 | 8.06 | 13.41 | 12.20 | – | ||
| CGM 3 | 10.69 | 10.58 | 13.62 | 13.60 | – | ||
| Surface | 13.93 | 13.09 | 15.63 | 15.08 | – | ||
| Fibula | Medullary cavity | 0.06 | 0.72 | 2.99 | 3.62 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.43 | 0.43 | 3.55 | 3.55 | 0.37 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not observed | Not fully traceable | Not observed | – | ||
| CGM 2 | Not fully traceable | Not observed | Not fully traceable | Not observed | 1.05 | ||
| CGM 3 | 4.24 | 4.29 | 7.72 | 7.85 | 1.17 | ||
| Surface | 5.27 | 5.40 | 8.63 | 8.81 | 1.30* | ||
| Femur | Medullary cavity | 2.55 | 3.40 | 6.08 | 7.01 | – | |
| Hatchling | 1.61 | 1.61 | 6.74 | 6.74 | 0.71 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 15.12 | 15.12 | 14.82 | 14.77 | 2.20 | ||
| CGM 3 | 18.52 | 18.34 | 16.45 | 16.29 | 2.43 | ||
| Surface | 24.70 | 24.42 | 18.97 | 18.81 | 2.81 | ||
| Humerus | Medullary cavity | 2.06 | 1.91 | 5.41 | 5.22 | – | |
| Hatchling | 1.02 | 1.02 | 4.06 | 4.06 | 0.57 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 3 | 12.90 | 12.94 | 13.47 | 13.51 | 2.01 | ||
| Surface | 17.31 | 17.67 | 15.61 | 15.76 | 2.35 | ||
| Radius | Medullary cavity | 0.71 | 0.67 | 3.17 | 3.10 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.42 | 0.42 | 3.42 | 3.42 | 0.37 | ||
| CGM 1 | 1.21 | 1.12 | 4.13 | 4.00 | 0.61 | ||
| CGM 2 | 3.21 | 3.16 | 6.76 | 6.82 | 0.99 | ||
| CGM 3 | 4.22 | 4.14 | 7.78 | 7.79 | 1.14 | ||
| Surface | 5.47 | 5.45 | 8.86 | 8.98 | 1.30 | ||
| Scapula | Medullary cavity | 1.85 | 4.08 | 8.70 | 9.46 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.70 | 0.70 | 5.73 | 5.73 | – | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 5.56 | Not fully traceable | 12.17 | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 3 | 7.40 | Not fully traceable | 13.70 | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| Surface | 10.04 | 16.33 | 15.33 | 16.55 | – | ||
| Tibia | Medullary cavity | 2.41 | 2.07 | 5.89 | 5.54 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.96 | 0.96 | 3.95 | 3.95 | 0.55 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 10.10 | 9.92 | 11.99 | 11.90 | 1.76 | ||
| CGM 3 | 12.45 | 12.32 | 13.32 | 13.20 | 1.96 | ||
| Surface | 16.13 | 16.08 | 15.11 | 15.10 | 2.24 | ||
| Ulna | Medullary cavity | 0.85 | 0.99 | 3.63 | 3.96 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.39 | 0.39 | 2.61 | 2.61 | 0.36 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 3.88 | 3.91 | 7.62 | 7.61 | 1.12 | ||
| CGM 3 | 5.28 | 5.35 | 8.89 | 8.91 | 1.31 | ||
| Surface | 7.22 | 7.33 | 10.41 | 10.49 | 1.52 | ||
|
MOR-OST
1649 |
Coracoid | Medullary cavity | 5.41 | 5.42 | 15.61 | 16.67 | – |
| Hatchling | 1.24 | 1.24 | 4.81 | 4.81 | – | ||
| CGM 1 | 5.29 | Not fully traceable | 11.27 | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 9.52 | 9.91 | 13.37 | 13.35 | – | ||
| CGM 3 | 15.08 | 15.85 | 16.07 | 16.18 | – | ||
| CGM 4 | 18.38 | 19.52 | 17.58 | 17.94 | – | ||
| CGM 5 | Not fully traceable | Not observed | Not fully traceable | Not observed | – | ||
| Surface | 22.40 | 23.94 | 19.26 | 19.73 | – | ||
| Fibula | Medullary cavity | 0.68 | 0.74 | 3.12 | 3.28 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.43 | 0.43 | 3.55 | 3.55 | 0.37 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 3.51 | 3.84 | 7.03 | 7.37 | 1.04 | ||
| CGM 3 | 5.60 | 5.67 | 8.91 | 8.96 | 1.33 | ||
| CGM 4 | 8.21 | 8.16 | 10.83 | 10.81 | 1.61 | ||
| CGM 5 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| Surface | 11.06 | 11.02 | 12.57 | 12.63 | 1.86* | ||
| Femur | Medullary cavity | 6.47 | 5.03 | 12.05 | 11.43 | – | |
| Hatchling | 1.61 | 1.61 | 6.74 | 6.74 | 0.71 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 11.58 | 13.68 | 12.87 | 14.06 | 1.93 | ||
| CGM 3 | 22.54 | 24.65 | 17.99 | 18.78 | 2.71 | ||
| CGM 4 | 35.20 | 36.23 | 22.56 | 22.75 | 3.39 | ||
| CGM 5 | Not fully traceable | Not observed | Not fully traceable | Not observed | – | ||
| Surface | 47.93 | 48.57 | 26.22 | 26.34 | 3.89* | ||
| Humerus | Medullary cavity | 3.47 | 3.01 | 7.35 | 6.92 | – | |
| Hatchling | 1.02 | 1.02 | 4.06 | 4.06 | 0.57 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 7.48 | 7.13 | 10.31 | 10.07 | 1.53 | ||
| CGM 3 | 14.44 | 14.42 | 14.29 | 14.26 | 2.14 | ||
| CGM 4 | 23.12 | 23.44 | 18.09 | 18.26 | 2.70 | ||
| CGM 5 | 31.25 | Not observed | 21.01 | Not observed | 3.14 | ||
| Surface | 32.53 | 32.86 | 21.44 | 21.55 | 3.2* | ||
| Radius | Medullary cavity | 0.51 | Not measured | 2.82 | Not measured | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.42 | Not measured | 3.42 | Not measured | 0.37 | ||
| CGM 1 | 3.07 | Not measured | 6.67 | Not measured | 0.96 | ||
| CGM 2 | 4.95 | Not measured | 8.48 | Not measured | 1.26 | ||
| CGM 3 | 7.22 | Not measured | 10.20 | Not measured | 1.52 | ||
| CGM 4 | 10.12 | Not measured | 12.02 | Not measured | 1.78 | ||
| CGM 5 | Not observed | Not measured | Not observed | Not measured | – | ||
| Surface | 10.91 | Not measured | 12.49 | Not measured | 1.84 | ||
| Scapula | Medullary cavity | 2.26 | 5.73 | 12.03 | 16.12 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.70 | 0.70 | 5.73 | 5.73 | – | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 4.30 | Not fully traceable | 14.01 | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 3 | 8.35 | Not fully traceable | 16.79 | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 4 | 13.49 | 14.89 | 19.58 | 17.88 | – | ||
| CGM 5 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| Surface | 20.51 | 22.31 | 22.10 | 21.05 | – | ||
| Tibia | Medullary cavity | 3.90 | 4.58 | 8.39 | 8.85 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.96 | 0.96 | 3.95 | 3.95 | 0.55 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 7.98 | 7.56 | 10.87 | 10.47 | 1.63 | ||
| CGM 3 | 14.78 | 14.70 | 14.56 | 14.47 | 2.22 | ||
| CGM 4 | 22.28 | 22.72 | 17.81 | 17.98 | 2.70 | ||
| CGM 5 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| Surface | 30.24 | 30.58 | 20.73 | 20.86 | 3.15* | ||
| Ulna | Medullary cavity | 1.11 | 1.11 | 4.52 | 4.32 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.39 | 0.39 | 2.61 | 2.61 | 0.36 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | – | ||
| CGM 2 | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | – | ||
| CGM 3 | 6.26 | 6.06 | 9.74 | 9.53 | 1.43 | ||
| CGM 4 | 9.45 | 9.30 | 11.91 | 11.90 | 1.76 | ||
| CGM 5 | 12.90 | 12.91 | 13.94 | 14.06 | 2.05 | ||
| Surface | 14.05 | 14.05 | 14.51 | 14.59 | 2.14* | ||
|
MOR-OST
1650 |
Coracoid | Medullary cavity | Not measured | 6.90 | Not measured | 16.27 | – |
| Hatchling | Not measured | 1.24 | Not measured | 4.81 | – | ||
| CGM 1 | Not measured | Not fully traceable | Not measured | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| CGM 2 | Not measured | 6.01 | Not measured | 11.67 | – | ||
| CGM 3 | Not measured | 15.33 | Not measured | 15.97 | – | ||
| CGM 4 | Not measured | 17.47 | Not measured | 16.88 | – | ||
| CGM 5 | Not measured | Not observed | Not measured | Not observed | – | ||
| Surface | Not measured | 28.93 | Not measured | 21.50 | – | ||
| Fibula | Medullary cavity | 1.43 | 1.31 | 4.67 | 4.41 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.43 | 0.43 | 3.55 | 3.55 | 0.37 | ||
| CGM 1 | 3.48 | 3.87 | 7.08 | 7.45 | 1.04 | ||
| CGM 2 | 5.23 | 5.50 | 8.66 | 8.88 | 1.29 | ||
| CGM 3 | 7.89 | 8.00 | 10.62 | 10.71 | 1.60 | ||
| CGM 4 | 9.22 | 9.43 | 11.56 | 11.69 | 1.73 | ||
| CGM 5 | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | Not fully traceable | – | ||
| Surface | 14.31 | 14.27 | 14.47 | 14.37 | 2.17 | ||
| Femur | Medullary cavity | 5.56 | 4.47 | 9.10 | 8.50 | – | |
| Hatchling | 1.61 | 1.61 | 6.74 | 6.74 | 0.71 | ||
| CGM 1 | 15.18 | 12.46 | 15.20 | 13.60 | 2.16 | ||
| CGM 2 | 21.45 | 19.82 | 17.73 | 16.86 | 2.57 | ||
| CGM 3 | 31.63 | 31.49 | 21.30 | 21.21 | 3.11 | ||
| CGM 4 | 37.36 | 38.03 | 23.13 | 23.26 | 3.39 | ||
| CGM 5 | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | – | ||
| Surface | 56.97 | 59.47 | 28.50 | 29.11 | 4.16 | ||
| Humerus | Medullary cavity | 3.23 | 2.09 | 7.33 | 5.55 | – | |
| Hatchling | 1.02 | 1.02 | 4.06 | 4.06 | 0.57 | ||
| CGM 1 | 6.78 | 6.78 | 9.91 | 9.78 | 1.46 | ||
| CGM 2 | 12.67 | 12.48 | 13.37 | 13.28 | 2.02 | ||
| CGM 3 | 21.07 | 21.27 | 17.25 | 17.36 | 2.61 | ||
| CGM 4 | 25.05 | 24.68 | 18.82 | 18.69 | 2.83 | ||
| CGM 5 | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | – | ||
| Surface | 41.56 | 41.02 | 24.25 | 24.04 | 3.65 | ||
| Radius | Medullary cavity | 0.68 | 0.42 | 3.28 | 2.54 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.42 | 0.42 | 3.42 | 3.42 | 0.37 | ||
| CGM 1 | 3.26 | 2.50 | 6.92 | 5.97 | 1.04 | ||
| CGM 2 | 4.72 | 4.49 | 8.30 | 8.03 | 1.25 | ||
| CGM 3 | 7.22 | 7.19 | 10.20 | 10.16 | 1.52 | ||
| CGM 4 | 8.68 | 8.71 | 11.18 | 11.17 | 1.66 | ||
| CGM 5 | 12.28 | 14.05 | 13.88 | 14.26 | 2.04 | ||
| Surface | 13.78 | 15.65 | 14.10 | 14.99 | 2.09* | ||
| Scapula | Medullary cavity | Not measured | 1.06 | Not measured | 11.40 | - | |
| Hatchling | Not measured | 0.70 | Not measured | 5.73 | – | ||
| CGM 1 | Not measured | 5.50 | Not measured | 16.59 | – | ||
| CGM 2 | Not measured | 7.66 | Not measured | 17.89 | – | ||
| CGM 3 | Not measured | 12.43 | Not measured | 21.52 | – | ||
| CGM 4 | Not measured | 15.39 | Not measured | 22.58 | – | ||
| CGM 5 | Not measured | Not observed | Not measured | Not observed | – | ||
| Surface | Not measured | 26.25 | Not measured | 26.87 | – | ||
| Tibia | Medullary cavity | 4.22 | 3.98 | 7.83 | 7.63 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.96 | 0.96 | 3.95 | 3.95 | 0.55 | ||
| CGM 1 | 7.24 | Not fully traceable | 10.17 | Not fully traceable | 1.50 | ||
| CGM 2 | 13.16 | 13.60 | 13.71 | 13.99 | 2.06 | ||
| CGM 3 | 21.65 | 22.96 | 17.70 | 18.04 | 2.64 | ||
| CGM 4 | 25.24 | 27.10 | 18.94 | 19.58 | 2.85 | ||
| CGM 5 | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | – | ||
| Surface | 40.24 | 43.56 | 23.93 | 24.87 | 3.57 | ||
| Ulna | Medullary cavity | 2.47 | 2.00 | 6.44 | 5.71 | – | |
| Hatchling | 0.39 | 0.39 | 2.61 | 2.61 | 0.36 | ||
| CGM 1 | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | Not observed | – | ||
| CGM 2 | 6.05 | 5.73 | 9.60 | 9.38 | 1.35 | ||
| CGM 3 | 9.50 | 9.05 | 11.83 | 11.62 | 1.74 | ||
| CGM 4 | 11.37 | 10.82 | 12.96 | 12.66 | 1.87 | ||
| CGM 5 | 18.53 | 17.57 | 16.46 | 16.04 | 2.45 | ||
| Surface | 19.27 | 18.58 | 16.74 | 16.57 | 2.5* |