NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Chelonian

Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudinata, most of whose body is shielded by a special bony shell developed from their ribs. The term turtle is usually used for the aquatic species, aquatic fresh-water turtles also being referred to as terrapins. The term is also used (esp. North America) to refer to all members of the order, including tortoises, which are predominantly land based. The order of Testudines includes both extant (living) and extinct varieties. About 300 species are alive today. When a turtle is in its egg the temperature determines whether it's male or female: a higher temperature becoming a female, a lower temperature becoming a male. It has been suggested that Prehistoric reptile be merged into this article or section. ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west... Genera Chersina Dipsochelys Furculachelys Geochelone Gopherus Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria Psammobates Pyxis Testudo Tortoise is the name given to the land-dwelling reptiles most of whose body is shielded by a special shell. ... In biology and ecology, extinction is the ceasing of existence of a species or group of species. ...

Sea turtles grow to large sizes and live in the oceans in the temperate and tropical regions of the earth. Pond turtles (or terrapins) are generally of a much smaller size, while land based terrapins (or tortoises) can be as big as the sea turtles. The measured sizes of turtles varies from a few centimetres (forest/jungle species) to up to two meters (the leatherback and the Galapagos tortoises). All turtles have a protective shell around their bodies. The top part of their case is called the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. Turtles generally live a long time; some individuals are known to have lived longer than 150 years. The oldest tortoise on record is known to have lived at least 188 years. Genera Caretta Lepidochelys Chelonia Eretmochelys Natator Dermochelys Sea turtles are large, ocean-dwelling turtles. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... The term carapace refers to a dorsal section of an exoskeleton or shell, in a number of animal groups. ... The plastron is the nearly flat part of the shell structure of a tortoise, what we would call the belly, similar in composition to the carapace; with an external layer of horny material divided into plates called scutes and an underlying layer of interlocking bones. ... Tui Malila was the name of a tortoise given to the royal family of Tonga by captain James Cook. ...

The first turtles already existed in the era of the dinosaurs, some 200 million years ago. Turtles are the only surviving branch of the even more ancient clade Anapsida, which includes groups such as the procolophonoids, millerettids and pareiasaurs. All anapsid skulls lack a temporal opening. All other extant amniotes have temporal openings (although in mammals the hole has become the zygoid arch). Most of the anapsids became extinct in the late Permian period, with the exception of the procolophonoids and the precursors of the testudines (turtles). Orders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Dinosaurs are animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 100-million years. ... Greek clados = branch) or phylogenetic systematics is a branch of biology that determines the evolutionary relationships of living things based on derived similarities. ... Orders Testudines (Turtles) Millerettid - extinct Nyctiphruret - extinct Pareiasaur - extinct Procolophonoid - extinct The anapsids are a group of amniotes, characterized by skulls without openings near the temples. ... The milleretids is an extinct group of anapsids that lived in South Africa during the Upper Permian. ... Genera Bradysaurus Nochelesaurus Embrithosaurus Deltavjatia Velosauria Shihtienfenia Pareiasuchus Pareiasaurus Scutosaurus Elginia Nanopareia Anthodon The Pareiasaurs - family Pareiasauridae - are a group of medium-sized to very large (60 cm to 3 meters long), stocky, early, reptilian herbivores, that flourished during the Permian period. ... Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals primarily characterized by the presence of mammary... The Permian is a geologic period that extends from about 280 to 248 million years before the present (mya). ...

However, it has recently been suggested that the anapsid condition of the turtle skull may not be a primitive character reflecting anapsid descent, but rather a case of convergent evolution. More recent phylogenetic studies with this in mind have 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 that affirmed an anapsid ancestry suggests that their inclusion of turtles within Anapsida was due to both the starting assumption that they were anapsid (most prior phylogenies concerned what sort of anapsid they were) and also due to insufficiently broad sampling of fossil and extant taxa for construction of the cladogram. While the issue is far from resolved, most scientists now lean towards a Diapsid origin for turtles. Classes Ichthyosauria Sauropterygia Lepidosauria Archosauria Diapsids (two arches) are a group of tetrapod animals that developed two holes (temporal fenestra) in each side their skulls, about 300 million years ago during the late Carboniferous period. ... Suborders Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards Sauria- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Squamata (scaled reptiles) is the largest recent order of reptiles. ... Groups Pterosauria Crocodylia (crocodiles) Dinosauria Aves (birds) Archosaurs (Greek for ruling reptiles) are a group of diapsid reptiles that first appeared during the late Permian (roughly 250 million years ago). ... Groups Pterosauria Crocodylia (crocodiles) Dinosauria Aves (birds) Archosaurs (Greek for ruling reptiles) are a group of diapsid reptiles that first appeared during the late Permian (roughly 250 million years ago). ...

Even though they spend large amounts of their lives underwater, turtles are air-breathing reptiles, and must surface at regular intervals to refill their lungs with fresh air. They also spend part of their lives on dry land. Sea turtles lay their eggs on dry sandy beaches. The eggs of the largest species are spherical, while the eggs of the rest are elongated. Their albumen (white) contains a different protein than does a bird's egg, such that it will not coagulate when cooked. Turtle eggs prepared to eat would consist mainly of yolk. Turtles are now highly endangered, largely as a result of beach development and over hunting.

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 serve to 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.

Order Testudines - Turtles

Suborder Cryptodira File links The following pages link to this file: Turtle Categories: Turtle ... File links The following pages link to this file: Turtle Categories: Turtle ... A turtle in a pond Picture taken in Hakone Garden in Saratoga, CA on Feb 5, 2005. ... A turtle in a pond Picture taken in Hakone Garden in Saratoga, CA on Feb 5, 2005. ...

Suborder Pleurodira Genera See text Snapping turtles (or snappers) are large, New World freshwater turtles of the family Chelydridae. ... Genera See text Snapping turtles (or snappers) are large, New World freshwater turtles of the family Chelydridae. ... For the band, see Tortoise (band). ... Genera Chersina Dipsochelys Furculachelys Geochelone Gopherus Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria Psammobates Pyxis Testudo Tortoise is the name given to the land-dwelling reptiles most of whose body is shielded by a special shell. ... Classification: Family Bataguridae Subfamily Batagurinae Genus Batagur Genus Callagur Genus Chinemys Genus Furculachelys Genus Geoclemys Genus Hardella Genus Hieremys Genus Kachuga Genus Morenia Genus Ocadia Subfamily Geoemydinae Genus Cuora Genus Cyclemys Genus Geoemyda Genus Malayemys Genus Heosemys Genus Mauremys Genus Melanochelys Genus Notochelys Genus Orlitia Genus Pyxidea Genus Rhinoclemmys Genus... subfamilies Emydinae Deirochelyinae Emydidae is a family of box and water turtles, including the common painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis). ... Classification: Family Carettochelyidae Genus Carettochelys Categories: Stub | Turtles ... Classification: Family Trionychidae Subfamily Cyclanorbinae Genus Cyclanorbis Genus Cycloderma Genus Lissemys Subfamily Trionychinae Genus Amyda Genus Apalone Genus Aspideretes Genus Chitra Genus Dogania Genus Nilssonia Genus Palea Genus Pelochelys Genus Pelodiscus Genus Rafetus Genus Trionyx Categories: Turtles ... Binomial name Dermatemys mawii Gray, 1847 The Mesoamerican River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) is the only species in the family Dermatemydidae. ... Classification: Family Kinosternidae Subfamily Kinosterninae Genus Kinosternon Genus Sternotherus Subfamily Staurotypinae Genus Claudius (biology) Genus Staurotypus Categories: Turtles ... Classification: Family Platysternidae Genus Platysternon Categories: Turtles ... Genera Caretta Lepidochelys Chelonia Eretmochelys Natator Dermochelys Sea turtles are large, ocean-dwelling turtles. ... Genera Caretta Lepidochelys Chelonia Eretmochelys Natator Dermochelys Sea turtles are large, ocean-dwelling turtles. ... Binomial name Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761) The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the biggest of all turtles alive, reaching a length of 2 metres (6. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Binomial name Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761) The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the biggest of all turtles alive, reaching a length of 2 metres (6. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce. ...

The Chelidae are a family of reptiles commonly known as the Austro-American Side-necked Turtles. ... Classification: Family Pelomedusidae Genus Pelomedusa Genus Pelusios Categories: Turtles ... Classification: Family Podocnemididae Genus Erymnochelys Genus Peltocephalus Genus Podocnemis Categories: Turtles ...

Turtles in pop culture

Turtles are depicted in Western culture as, snapping turtles aside, easygoing and patient creatures. Western Culture refers to the culture that has developed in the Western world. ... Genera See text Snapping turtles (or snappers) are large, New World freshwater turtles of the family Chelydridae. ...

One incarnation of Vishnu is the giant turtle Chukwa. In Hindu mythology, Chukwa is the first and oldest turtle, supporting the Earth. ...

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are comic-book characters whose adventures have been adapted for TV and film. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; (clockwise from left) Raphael, Leonardo, Michaelangelo and Donatello. ...

Terry Pratchett's Discworld rests on the back of the gigantic star-turtle Great A'Tuin. Terence David John Pratchett OBE (known to some fans as Pterry â€“ following the convention he used in his book Pyramids where characters were given names such as Ptraci and Pteppic) is an English fantasy author (born April 28, 1948, in Beaconsfield, Bucks), best known for his Discworld series. ... The Discworld is a series of over 30 novels by Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld. ... Great ATuin is the fictional giant star turtle in the Discworld universe, who travels through space, carrying the four giant elephants (named Berilia, Tubul, Great TPhon, and Jerakeen) who in turn carry the Discworld. ...

The mascot of the University of Maryland, College Park is the diamondback terrapin, which is also the state reptile of Maryland. Mascots at the Mascot Olympics in Orlando, FL. A mascot is something, typically an animal or human character used to represent a group with a common identity, such as a school, professional sports team, or corporation. ... University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (also known as UM, UMD, or UMCP) is a public coeducational university situated in suburban College Park, Maryland just outside Washington, D.C. The flagship institution of the University System of Maryland, the university is most often referred to... State nickname: Old Line State; Free State Other U.S. States Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Official languages English Area 32,160 kmÂ² (42nd) - Land 25,338 kmÂ² - Water 6,968 kmÂ² (21%) Population (2000) - Population 5,296,486 (19th) - Density 165 /kmÂ² (5th) Admission into...

The mascot of the Ptolemaic Terrascope magazine is a turtle named Ptolemy. Mascots at the Mascot Olympics in Orlando, FL. A mascot is something, typically an animal or human character used to represent a group with a common identity, such as a school, professional sports team, or corporation. ... Ptolemaic Terrascope logo The Ptolemaic Terrascope is a magazine covering old and new music, usually of a psychedelic nature. ... A collection of magazines A magazine is a periodical publication containing a variety of articles on various subjects. ...

The Turtle (also known as Maturin) appears in a number of Stephen King's novels, including It, and The Dark Tower series. It is a guardian of the beam, and a nursery rhyme from Roland's world opens with "See the turtle of enormous girth, on his shell he holds the Earth". Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is a prolific American author best known for his horror novels. ... It is a horror novel by Stephen King. ... The Dark Tower is a fantasy fiction, science fantasy, horror, and western themed series of novels by the American writer Stephen King. ...

The Grateful Dead recorded a song entitled "Terrapin Station", which appears on the album of the same name and was a steady inclusion in their live repertoire. Jerry Garcia later in life The Grateful Dead, often referred to as The Dead, was an American psychedelia-influenced jam band, formed in 1965 in San Francisco from the remnants of another band, Mother McCrees Uptown Jug Champions. ...

Son Goku from Dragonball uses "Turtle Style" Martial Arts, the "Kame-Hame-Ha" itself translates to Turtle Destruction Wave. This article is about the Motorola Dragonball microprocessor. ...

Contents

Order Testudines - Turtles

Turtles in pop culture

See also

External links

Contents

Order Testudines - Turtles GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Turtles in pop culture

See also

External links

Order Testudines - Turtles