Order Testudines Flashcards

1
Q

Order Testudines

A
  • The turtles
  • 200 mya
  • Fossils appear in the Upper Triassic
  • 360+ spp.
  • Synapomorphies:
    1. Diapsid (2 holes) secondarily evolved to an Anapsid (no holes) skull form
    2. Carapace & Plastron (belly)
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2
Q

Turtle Shell

A
  • The shell consists of a dorsal *carapace and ventral *plastron
    - Outer layer of *keratin and inner layer of *bone
  • Fusion of flat ribs and vertebrae
  • Unique: limb girdles deep within rib cage
  • No teeth: keratinized beak
  • Rigid shell -> turtle cannot expand its chest to breathe
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3
Q

Turtle Breathing

A

Cannot expand chest to breathe
Lungs attached to carapace
- most must breathe inside “box” via contraction of muscle “sling” under ventral viscera
- use abdominal and pectoral muscles as a “diaphragm”
- *inhalation by contraction of limp flank muscles, increasing abdominal cavity volume
- *exhalation by drawing back the shoulder girdle to compress the vicera

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4
Q

Turtle Reproduction

A
  • All internally fertilize via copulation
  • All oviparous & lay eggs in ground
  • <27.7C = male; >31C = females (sea turtles)
  • No parental care
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