reptiles - turtles + tuatara

exam 4 bio 305

general information

• ~ 300 spp

• ancient lineage

• long lived

• small brain

• poor hearing

• good sense of smell + vision

• carapace → top of shell

• plastron → bottom of shell

• lack teeth

reproduction

• oviparous

• internal fertilization

• bury eggs in ground

• nest temp. determines sex

  • low temp → males

  • high temp → females

sea turtles

• webbed feet

• returns to natal beach

• long migrations

box turtles

• hinged shells

  • can hide + close shell

• eastern box turtle

snapping turtle

• common in eastern CT

• defensive

• carnivorous

  • fish

  • frogs

  • birds

• lay eggs on land

other CT turtles

• wood turtle

• musk turtle (stink butt)

• spotted turtle

• diamondback terrapin

  • only brackish water

• painted turtle

• red-eared slider

tuataras

• 1 spp

  • ~ 50,000

• live in burrows

• carnivorous

• slow growing → 100 - 200 yrs old

• skull nearly identical to diapsid skulls of 200 mya