chelonian Flashcards
what is a Chelonia?
shelled reptiles
factors of a tortoise?
live on dry land, high dome shell, largely herbivorous, tough leg skin
factors of a turtle?
marine species, webbed feet, carnivorous
factors of a terrapin?
freshwater and land, webbed feet with claws, carnivorous
are their organs in their shell?
yes
what does heliothermic?
bask in sun to heat up
what size can chelonians grow to?
10cm - 2.4m
what is the life span of chelonian species?
100-200 years
what does oviparous mean?
they lay eggs
how do they avoid extreme cold?
they will brumate
what does cryptodira mean?
hidden neck
what does pleurodira mean?
side necked
what is the carapace?
upper shell
what is the plastron?
lower part of the shell
Chelonia species have sternums. T or F
false
factors of the skull?
head is small to allow retraction, rigid jaws, they have a beak edged with keratin
do they have, paired nostrils, partial hard palate, trachea, 2 lungs and diaphragm?
false they have no diaphragm
how do they inspire air?
achieved by increasing the lung volume, which causes a decrease in lung air pressure, and as a result air is sucked in.
how do they expire air?
limbs are retracted into the shell, causing an increase in soft tissue and pressure within the coelomic cavity which forces air out of the lungs.
how do aquatic species breathe?
aided by the pressure of the water which can draw in and out of the lungs.
some freshwater turtles can absorb oxygen via their cloaca.
some can also breathe through their skin.
do they have teeth?
no they have a horny beak
what are their tongues like?
fleshly and tightly attactched
do they have digestive enzymes?
no
what are their stomach like?
spindle shaped and very simple
what do they have in their urogenital system?
2 kidneys, two ureters, bladder
how to handle chelonian species?
hold with two hands one either side of the shell and behind the forelimbs
where to give an IV injection?
jugular vein, dorsal tail vein
where to give an IM injection?
tricep muscle, quadriceps muscle
