NatureNotes

Alligator Bones?

Published May 11, 2017 at 5:12 AM EDT

A decaying sturgeon carcass at at the VCU Rice Center. It was killed by a boat strike.

A listener finds some strange, pitted bones on the beach. Alligator? Not a bad guess, but, the bones are actually "scutes" from an Atlantic Sturgeon.

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Rudy Mancke

Rudy Mancke served as naturalist and co-host of South Carolina ETV's NatureScene, which began its long run in 1978. His field trips, broadcast nationwide, have earned him a legion of dedicated viewers. Rudy's knowledge of the complex inner-workings of different ecosystems and his great admiration for the natural world make him the perfect guide. In fact, the National Wildlife Federation and the Garden Club of America honored his commitment to resource conservation with special awards. Since retiring from SCETV, Rudy has gone on to teach at the University of South Carolina, Columbia.

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