Exam 1 Testudines/ Chelonia

Geographic distribution

panglobal

327 species worldwide

synapomorphies

anapsid skull

lots of bone changes in shell

pelvic and pectoral girdle inside ribcage

keratinized beak

omnivorous (most)

beaks and shells

bone covered by keratin

dorsal = carapace

ventral = plastron

dermal bone with scutes on top

shell reduced in some

shell hinged in some

notable characteristics

single median penis

oviparous, no prenatal care

temperature dependent sex determination

some respire thru skin

• cloaca, throat lining, skin, highly vascularized areas

Emydidae

pond turtles

freshwater or semiaquatic

some with hinged plastron

Delmarva: Emydidae

Aquatic

• P rubriventris

• C picta

• T scripta

• M terrapin

Terrestrial

• T carolina

• C guttata

Male vs female sex determination in turtles

Males:

• concave plastron

• cloaca past carapace

• base of tail wider

Females:

• flat or convex plastron

• Female spotted turtles are more colorful

families with hinged plastrons

Geomydidae

Kinosternidae

Reduced in Chelydridae

Families with recuded/ few scutes

Kinosternidae

Trionychidae (soft shell)

Dermochelydae

Families with high domed shells

Testudinidae