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Revision as of 15:25, 3 March 2008 by Splifftastic (talk | contribs) (→Anatomy and morphology)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For other uses, see Turtle (disambiguation).
| Turtle Temporal range: Triassic - Recent | |
|---|---|
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| "Chelonia" from Ernst Haeckel's Kunstformen der Natur, 1904 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Testudines Linnaeus, 1758 See text for families. |
Turtles are reptilians of the Order Testudines (all living turtles belong to the crown group Chelonia), most of whose body is shielded by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs. The Order Testudines includes both extant (living) and extinct species. The earliest known turtles date from 215 million years ago, making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards and snakes. About 300 species are alive today, and some are highly endangered.
Turtles cannot breathe in water however they hold their breath for various periods of time.
Like other reptiles, turtles are poikilothermic (or "of varying temperature"). Like other amniotes (reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals), they breathe air and don't lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water. The largest turtles are aquatic.
YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSnyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystomy you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd morphology
The lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrgest cheloniyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn is the greyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst leyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystherbyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysck seyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys turtle, which reyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysches you’re a moronic dufus with small willys shell length of 200 cm (80 inches) you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn reyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysch you’re a moronic dufus with small willys weight of over 900 kg (2,000 lb, or 1 short ton). Freshwyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyster turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre generyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslly smyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysller, but with the lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrgest species, the YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSsiyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn softshell turtle Pelochelys cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysntorii, you’re a moronic dufus with small willys few individuyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysls hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve been reported up to 200 cm or 80 in (Dyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyss, 1991). This dwyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrfs even the better-known you’re a moronic dufus with small willyslligyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystor snyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyspping turtle, the lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrgest cheloniyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn in North YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSmericyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys, which you’re a moronic dufus with small willysttyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysins you’re a moronic dufus with small willys shell length of up to 80 cm (31½ in) you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd you’re a moronic dufus with small willys weight of you’re a moronic dufus with small willysbout 60 kg (170 lb).
Giyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnt tortoises of the generyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys Geochelone, Meiolyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysniyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys, you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd others were relyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystively widely distributed you’re a moronic dufus with small willysround the world into prehistoric times, you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre known to hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve existed in North you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd South YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSmericyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys, YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSustryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysliyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys, you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSfricyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys. They becyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysme extinct you’re a moronic dufus with small willyst the syou’re a moronic dufus with small willysme time you’re a moronic dufus with small willyss the you’re a moronic dufus with small willysppeyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnce of Myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn, you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd it is you’re a moronic dufus with small willysssumed thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst humyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysns hunted them for food. The only surviving giyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnt tortoises you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre on the Seychelles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd Gyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslápyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysgos Islyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnds you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn grow to over 130 cm (50 in) in length, you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd weigh you’re a moronic dufus with small willysbout 300 kg (670 lb).
The lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrgest ever cheloniyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn wyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyss YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSrchelon ischyros, you’re a moronic dufus with small willys Lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyste Cretyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysceous seyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys turtle known to hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve been up to 4.6 m (15 ft) long.
The smyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysllest turtle is the speckled pyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysdloper tortoise of South YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSfricyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys. It meyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyssures no more thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn 8 cm (3 in) in length you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd weighs you’re a moronic dufus with small willysbout 140 g (5 oz). Two other species of smyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysll turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre the YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSmericyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn mud turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd musk turtles thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst live in you’re a moronic dufus with small willysn you’re a moronic dufus with small willysreyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst ryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnges from Cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysdyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys to South YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSmericyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys. The shell length of myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysny species in this group is less thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn 13 cm (5 in) in length.
Neck folding
Turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre broken down into two groups, you’re a moronic dufus with small willysccording to how twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysty evolved you’re a moronic dufus with small willys solution to twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst problem of withdryou’re a moronic dufus with small willyswing twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystir neck into twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystir shell (something twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst you’re a moronic dufus with small willysncestryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysl Progyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnochelys could not do): twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst Cryptodiryou’re a moronic dufus with small willys, which cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn dryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysw twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystir neck in while contryou’re a moronic dufus with small willyscting it under twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystir spine; you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst Pleurodiryou’re a moronic dufus with small willys, which contryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysct twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystir neck to twyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst side. ] ]
Heyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysd
Most turtles thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst spend most of their life on lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve their eyes looking down you’re a moronic dufus with small willyst objects in front of them. Some you’re a moronic dufus with small willysquyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystic turtles, such you’re a moronic dufus with small willyss snyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyspping turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd soft-shelled turtles, hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve eyes closer to the top of the heyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysd. These species of turtles cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn hide from predyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystors in shyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysllow wyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyster where they lie entirely submerged except for their eyes you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd nostrils. Seyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys turtles possess glyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnds neyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysr their eyes thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst produce syou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslty teyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrs thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst rid their body of excess syou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslt tyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysken in from the wyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyster they drink.
Turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre thought to hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve exceptionyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysl night vision due to the unusuyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslly lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrge number of rod cells in their retinyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyss. Turtles hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve color vision with you’re a moronic dufus with small willys weyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslth of cone subtypes with sensitivities ryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnging from the neyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysr Ultryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysviolet (UV YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYS) to Red. Some lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd turtles hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve very poor pursuit movement you’re a moronic dufus with small willysbilities, which you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre normyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslly reserved for predyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystors thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst hunt quick moving prey, but cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrnivorous turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre you’re a moronic dufus with small willysble to move their heyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysds quickly to snyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysp.
Turtles hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve you’re a moronic dufus with small willys rigid beyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysk. Turtles use their jyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysws to cut you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd chew food. Insteyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysd of teeth, the upper you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd lower jyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysws of the turtle you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre covered by horny ridges. Cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrnivorous turtles usuyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslly hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve knife-shyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrp ridges for slicing through their prey. Herbivorous turtles hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve serryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysted-edged ridges thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst help them cut through tough plyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnts. Turtles use their tongues to swyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysllow food, but they cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn't, unlike most reptiles, stick out their tongues to cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystch food.
Shell
The upper shell of the turtle is cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslled the cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysryou’re a moronic dufus with small willyspyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysce. The lower shell thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst encyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysses the belly is cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslled the plyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysstron. The cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysryou’re a moronic dufus with small willyspyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysce you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd plyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysstron you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre joined together on the turtle's sides by bony structures cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslled bridges. The inner lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysyer of you’re a moronic dufus with small willys turtle's shell is myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysde up of you’re a moronic dufus with small willysbout 60 bones thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst includes portions of the byou’re a moronic dufus with small willysckbone you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd the ribs, meyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysning the turtle cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnnot cryou’re a moronic dufus with small willyswl out of its shell. In most turtles, the outer lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysyer of the shell is covered by horny scyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysles cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslled scutes thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre pyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrt of its outer skin, or epidermis. Scutes you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysde up of you’re a moronic dufus with small willys fibrous protein cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslled keryou’re a moronic dufus with small willystin thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst you’re a moronic dufus with small willyslso myou’re a moronic dufus with small willyskes up the scyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysles of other reptiles. These scutes overlyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysp the seyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysms between the shell bones you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd you’re a moronic dufus with small willysdd strength to the shell. Some turtles do not hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve horny scutes. For exyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysmple, the leyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystherbyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysck seyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys turtle you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd the soft-shelled turtles hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve shells covered with leyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysthery skin insteyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysd.
The shyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyspe of the shell gives helpful clues to how the turtle lives. Most tortoises hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve you’re a moronic dufus with small willys lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrge dome-shyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysped shell thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst myou’re a moronic dufus with small willyskes it difficult for predyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystors to crush the shell between their jyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysws. One of the few exceptions is the YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSfricyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn pyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysncyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyske tortoise which hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyss you’re a moronic dufus with small willys flyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst, flexible shell thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst you’re a moronic dufus with small willysllows it to hide in rock crevices. Most you’re a moronic dufus with small willysquyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystic turtles hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve flyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst, streyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysmlined shells which you’re a moronic dufus with small willysid in swimming you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd diving. YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSmericyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn snyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyspping turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd musk turtles hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve smyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysll, cross-shyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysped plyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysstrons thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst give them more efficient leg movement for wyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslking you’re a moronic dufus with small willyslong the bottom of ponds you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd streyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysms.
The color of you’re a moronic dufus with small willys turtle's shell myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysy vyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysry. Shells you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre commonly colored brown, blyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysck, or olive green. In some species, shells myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysy hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve red, oryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnge, yellow, or grey myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrkings you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd these myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrkings you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre often spots, lines, or irregulyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysr blotches. One of the most colorful turtles is the eyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysstern pyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysinted turtle which includes you’re a moronic dufus with small willys yellow plyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysstron you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd you’re a moronic dufus with small willys blyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysck or olive shell with red myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrkings you’re a moronic dufus with small willysround the rim.
Tortoises, being lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysndbyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyssed, hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve ryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysther heyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysvy shells. In contryou’re a moronic dufus with small willysst, you’re a moronic dufus with small willysquyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystic you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd soft-shelled turtles hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve lighter shells thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst help them you’re a moronic dufus with small willysvoid sinking in wyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyster you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd swim fyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysster with more you’re a moronic dufus with small willysgility. These lighter shells hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysve lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrge spyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysces cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslled fontyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnelles between the shell bones. The shell of you’re a moronic dufus with small willys leyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystherbyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysck turtle is extremely light becyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysuse they lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysck scutes you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd contyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysin myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysny fontyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnelles.
Skin you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd molting
YOU’RE A MORONIC DUFUS WITH SMALL WILLYSs mentioned you’re a moronic dufus with small willysbove, the outer lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysyer of the shell is pyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrt of the skin, eyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysch scute (or plyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyste) on the shell corresponding to you’re a moronic dufus with small willys single modified scyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysle. The remyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysinder of the skin is composed of skin with much smyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysller scyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysles, similyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysr to the skin of other reptiles. Turtles you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd terryou’re a moronic dufus with small willyspins do not moult their skins you’re a moronic dufus with small willysll in one go, you’re a moronic dufus with small willyss snyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyskes do, but continuously, in smyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysll pieces. When kept in you’re a moronic dufus with small willysquyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysriyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys, smyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysll sheets of deyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysd skin cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysn be seen in the wyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyster (often you’re a moronic dufus with small willysppeyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysring to be you’re a moronic dufus with small willys thin piece of plyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysstic) when it hyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyss been sloughed off, often when the you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnimyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysl deliberyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystely rubs itself you’re a moronic dufus with small willysgyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysinst you’re a moronic dufus with small willys piece of wood or stone. Tortoises you’re a moronic dufus with small willyslso shed skin, but you’re a moronic dufus with small willys lot of deyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysd skin is you’re a moronic dufus with small willysllowed to you’re a moronic dufus with small willysccumulyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyste into thick knobs you’re a moronic dufus with small willysnd plyou’re a moronic dufus with small willystes thyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyst provide protection to pyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrts of the body outside the shell.
By counting the rings formed by the styou’re a moronic dufus with small willysck of smyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysller, older scutes on top of the lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrger, newer ones, it is possible to estimyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyste the you’re a moronic dufus with small willysge of you’re a moronic dufus with small willys turtle, if you know how myou’re a moronic dufus with small willysny scutes you’re a moronic dufus with small willysre produced in you’re a moronic dufus with small willys yeyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysr. This method is not very you’re a moronic dufus with small willysccuryou’re a moronic dufus with small willyste, pyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrtly becyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysuse growth ryou’re a moronic dufus with small willyste is not constyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnt, but you’re a moronic dufus with small willyslso becyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysuse some of the scutes eventuyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslly fyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysll you’re a moronic dufus with small willyswyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysy from the shell.
Limbs
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Ecology and life history
Although many turtles spend large amounts of their lives underwater, all turtles and tortoises breathe air, and must surface at regular intervals to refill their lungs. They can also spend much of their lives on dry land. Aquatic respiration in Australian freshwater turtles is currently being studied. Some species have large cloacal cavities that are lined with many finger-like projections. These projections, called "papillae", have a rich blood supply, and increase the surface area of the cloaca. The turtles can take up dissolved oxygen from the water using these papillae, in much the same way that fish use gills to respire.
Turtles lay eggs, like other reptiles, which are slightly soft and leathery. The eggs of the largest species are spherical, while the eggs of the rest are elongated. Their albumen is white and contains a different protein than bird eggs, such that it will not coagulate when cooked. Turtle eggs prepared to eat consist mainly of yolk. In some species, temperature determines whether an egg develops into a male or a female: a higher temperature causes a female, a lower temperature causes a male. Large numbers of eggs are deposited in holes dug into mud or sand. They are then covered and left to incubate by themselves. When the turtles hatch, they squirm their way to the surface and head toward the water. There are no known species in which the mother cares for the young.
Sea turtles lay their eggs on dry, sandy beaches. Immature sea turtles are not cared for by the adults. Most are endangered largely as a result of beach development and over harvesting. Turtles can take many years to reach breeding age, and in many cases breed every few years rather than annually.
Researchers have recently discovered a turtle’s organs do not gradually break down or become less efficient over time, unlike most other animals. It was found that the liver, lungs and kidneys of a centenarian turtle are virtually indistinguishable from those of its immature counterpart. This has inspired genetic researchers to begin examining the turtle genome for longevity genes.
Taxonomy
Main article: TestudinesTurtles are divided into three suborders, one of which, the Paracryptodira, is extinct. The two extant suborders are the Cryptodira and the Pleurodira. The Cryptodira is the larger of the two groups and includes all the marine turtles, the terrestrial tortoises, and many of the freshwater turtles. The Pleurodira are sometimes known as the side-necked turtles, a reference to the way they withdraw their heads into their shells. This smaller group consists primarily of various freshwater turtles.
Evolutionary history
The first turtles are believed to have existed in the early Triassic Period of the Mesozoic era, about 200 million years ago. Their exact ancestry is disputed. It was believed that they are the only surviving branch of the ancient clade Anapsida, which includes groups such as procolophonoids, millerettids, protorothyrids and pareiasaurs. All anapsid skulls lack a temporal opening, while all other extant amniotes have temporal openings (although in mammals the hole has become the zygomatic arch). The millerettids, protorothyrids and pareiasaurs became extinct in the late Permian period, and the procolophonoids during the Triassic.
However, it was recently suggested that the anapsid-like turtle skull may be due to reversion rather than to anapsid descent. More recent phylogenetic studies with this in mind placed turtles firmly within diapsids, slightly closer to Squamata than to Archosauria. All molecular studies have strongly upheld this new phylogeny, though some place turtles closer to Archosauria. Re-analysis of prior phylogenies suggests that they classified turtles as anapsids both because they assumed this classification (most of them studying what sort of anapsid turtles are) and because they did not sample fossil and extant taxa broadly enough for constructing the cladogram. As of 2003, the consensus is that Testudines diverged from other diapsids between 200 and 279 million years ago.
The earliest known turtle is proganochelys, though this species already had many advanced turtle traits, and thus probably had many millions of years of preceding "turtle" evolution and species in its ancestry. It did lack the ability to pull its head into its shell (and it had a long neck), and had a long, spiked tail ending in a club, implying an ancestry occupying a similar niche to the ankylosaurs (though, presumably, only parallel evolution).
Turtle, tortoise or terrapin?
Differences between turtles, tortoises and terrapins
Turtles as pets
Main article: Pet turtlesTurtles, particularly small terrestrial and freshwater turtles, are commonly kept as pets. Among the most popular are Russian Tortoises, Greek spur-thighed tortoises and red-ear sliders (or terrapin).
See also
- Addyaita: a giant turtle of Aldabra. It was reportedly 250-years old when it died at Kolkata Zoo on March 24, 2005.
- Araripemys arturi
- List of Testudines families
- Pet turtles
- Red-eared slider: most common pet turtle
- Sea Turtles
- Turtle racing
- Turtles and tortoises in popular culture
Further reading
- Iskandar, DT (2000). Turtles and Crocodiles of Insular Southeast Asia and New Guinea. ITB, Bandung.
- Pritchard, Pether C H (1979). Encyclopedia of Turtles. T.F.H. Publications.
References
- http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinos/Archelon.shtml
- Reptile blood isn't necessarily cold, as reptiles sun themselves and take other measures to stay warm.
- http://www.tortoise.org/generyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysl/wildfyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysqs.html#lyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysrgest
- http://www.oceyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnsofkyou’re a moronic dufus with small willysnsyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyss.com/Turtles.html
- http://www.royyou’re a moronic dufus with small willyslbcmuseum.bc.cyou’re a moronic dufus with small willys/new/gturtle.html
- All but Ageless, Turtles Face Their Biggest Threat: Humans
- http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/anapsids/procolophonoidea.html
- Rieppel, O., and DeBraga, M. (1996). "Turtles as diapsid reptiles." Nature, 384: 453-455.
- Zardoya, R., and Meyer, A. (1998). "Complete mitochondrial genome suggests diapsid affinities of turtles." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 95(24): 14226-14231.
- http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=538573
- David Alderton (1986). An Interpret Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians, Salamander Books Ltd., London & New York.
External links
- UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology
- Turtles of the World: Extensive information on all known turtles, tortoises and terrapins, including key and quiz.
- Chelonian studbook Collection and display of the weights/sizes of captive turtles
- John M. Legler & Arthur Georges, Biogeography and Phylogeny of the Chelonia (taxonomy, maps)