Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
However, the soft shell turtles, pig-nose turtles and the leatherback sea turtle have lost the scutes and reduced the ossification of the shell. This leaves the shell covered only by skin. [13] These are all highly aquatic forms. The evolution of the turtle's shell is unique because of how the carapace represents transformed vertebrae and ribs.
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked turtles), which differ in the way the head retracts. There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles ...
The baby sea turtles break free of the egg shell, dig through the sand, and crawl into the sea. Most species of sea turtles hatch at night. However, the Kemp's ridley sea turtle commonly hatches during the day. Sea turtle nests that hatch during the day are more vulnerable to predators, and may encounter more human activity on the beach.
The species comprises 15 subspecies(13 extantand 2 extinct). It is the largest living species of tortoise, and can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb).[3] They are also the largest extant terrestrial cold-blooded animals (ectotherms). [4] With lifespans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates.
The turtle's neck and sides are brown on the tops and yellow on the sides and bottom. [9] The turtle's shell is divided into two sections: carapace and plastron. The carapace is further divided into large plates, or scutes. [20] Typically, 11 or 12 pairs of marginal scutes rim the carapace. [8]
Emydidae (Latin emys (freshwater tortoise) + Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos, “appearance, resemblance”)) is a family of testudines (turtles) that includes close to 50 species in 10 genera. [3][4] Members of this family are commonly called terrapins, pond turtles, or marsh turtles. [1] Several species of Asian box turtles were formerly ...
Testudinata is the group of all tetrapods with a true turtle shell. It includes both modern turtles (Testudines) and many of their extinct, shelled relatives (stem-turtles), though excluding Odontochelys and Eorhynchochelys, which are placed in the more inclusive Pantestudines.
Testudo. Linnaeus, 1758. Tortoises (/ ˈtɔːrtəs.ɪz / TOR-təs-iz) are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin for "tortoise"). Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like other members of the suborder Cryptodira, they ...