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YR1 EXOTICS > L01 - Chelonians > Flashcards

L01 - Chelonians Flashcards

1
Q

Basics points to determine a tortoise?

A
  • dry land terrestrial species
  • largely herbivorous
  • high dome shell and elephantine feet
  • forelimbs clad in large overlapping scales
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2
Q

Basic points to determine a turtle?

A
  • marine species
  • largely carnivorous
  • tendency for flatter shells and have webbed feet
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3
Q

Basic points to determine a terrapin?

A
  • freshwater/brackish (slightly salty)
  • largely carnivorous
  • webbed feet with claws, are multifunctional
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4
Q

Key characteristics of chelonians?

A
  • ectothermic (require external heat source)
  • heliothermic (bask in sun to heat up)
  • size: 10cm to 2.4m
  • lifespan: 10 to 200 years
  • no outer ear
  • oviparous (lay eggs, bury, no maternal care)
  • will bromate to avoid extreme cold
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5
Q

Locomotion in chelonians?

A
  • limbs project sideways and have an awkward gait
  • muscles tire easily and progress is laborious
  • can move a great speed and cover quite a distance
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6
Q

What is terrestrial chelonians general anatomy?

A
  • high domed
  • stump legged
  • small headed vegetarians
  • usually found in hot and arid climates
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7
Q

What is marine chelonians general anatomy?

A
  • flatter and softer shell for better streamlining
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8
Q

What is freshwater chelonians general anatomy?

A
  • webbed feet
  • smooth shell
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9
Q

What are the types of necks seen in chelonians?

A
  • crytodira (hidden neck) so flex vertebrae vertically
  • pleurodira (side necked) so flex vertebrae laterally
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10
Q

What is included in cryptodira families?

A
  • most living tortoises and turtles
  • sea turtles
  • leatherback turtles
  • tortoises
  • soft shell turtles
  • snapping turtles
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11
Q

What neck movement is seen in cryptodira families?

A
  • they lower their necks and pull their head straight back into the shell
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12
Q

What is included in pleurodira families?

A
  • mata mata
  • snake necked turtles
  • side neck turtles
    (all are freshwater aquatic species)
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13
Q

What neck movement is seen in pleurodira families?

A
  • neck folds sideways along the body under the shells margin
  • the venerable exposure of the neck area is likely to have prevented the evolution of terrestrial side-necks
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14
Q

What is the carapace?

A
  • an endoskeleton
  • their upper shell structure
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15
Q

What is the structure of their ribs and vertebrae?

A
  • modified rib cage and vertebrae
  • thoracic and lumbar
  • compromised of fused living dermal bone covered by keratinised epidermis
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16
Q

What is the structure of the carapace?

A
  • the upper shell
  • plates is he nine bony layer
  • fusion of dermal bone, ribs, thoracic, lumbar vert
  • scutes (sections) is the outer layer which is made of keratinised scales
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17
Q

How many scutes does each area have?

A
  • 5 central (vertebral) scutes
  • 4 lateral (pleural/costal) scutes
  • numerous marginal scutes
  • 1 nuchal cute
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18
Q

What is the structure of the plastron?

A
  • the lower part of the shell
  • compromised of living dermal bone covered by keratinised epidermis
  • joined by pillars of shell
  • some species have hinges which help shut the shell
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19
Q

What is the structure of their vertebral column and ribs?

A
  • limited vertebrae
  • 8 cervical vertebrae and 10 trunk vertebrae
  • trunk vertebrae have rib attachment which fuses to the dermal bone plates
  • have no sternum
20
Q

What is the structure of the pectoral and pelvic girdles?

A
  • unique in chelonians
  • act like vertical pillars which add strength
  • attached to both the plastron and carapace by pectoral and pelvic muscles
21
Q

What is the structure of their limbs?

A
  • humerus and femur are short
  • fused carpus and tarsus for strength
  • 5 claws on each foot
  • tortoises have only 4 claws on the hindlimb
  • have scales
22
Q

What is the structure of their skull?

A
  • head is small to allow retraction
  • have sturdy skill and rigid upper and lower jaws
  • possess a horny beak which is edged with keratin
23
Q

What is the structure of their nares and hard palate?

A
  • paired nostrils
  • partial hard palate
24
Q

What is the structure of their trachea?

A
  • protected by their glottis
  • complete cartilaginous rings
  • bifurcates high into the neck, into 2 bronchi which lead into the lungs
25
Q

What is the structure of their lungs?

A
  • spongy
  • occupy a large volume in the body cavity
  • strong trunk muscles expand and contract the lungs
26
Q

Do they have a diaphragm?

A

No

27
Q

What special ability do chelonians have?

A
  • the ability to switch to anaerobic respiration
28
Q

What is the process of inspiration in chelonians?

A
  • achieved by increasing the lung volume
  • this causes a decrease in lung air pressure
  • as a result air is sucked in
29
Q

What is the process of expiration in chelonians?

A
  • limbs are retracted in the shell
  • causes an increase in soft tissue and pressure within the coelomic cavity
  • this forces air out of the lungs
30
Q

What is the process of respiration in aquatic species?

A
  • aided by the pressure of the water which can draw in and out of the lungs
  • some absorb oxygen via their cloaca
  • some breathe through their skin
31
Q

What is the structure of chelonians oral cavity?

A
  • horny beak
  • they have no teeth
  • tongue is fleshy and tightly attached
  • salivary glands are just mucus, no digestive enzymes
32
Q

What is the structure of the stomach and large intestine?

A
  • stomach is pointless shaped and simple
  • have a wide and large intestine for microbial digestion
  • caecum is present
33
Q

What is the passage of food?

A
  • passage of food is slow
  • allows maximum absorption
34
Q

What is the structure of the heart?

A
  • lies in the midline
  • 3 chambered organ
  • 2 atria and 1 common ventricle
  • ventricle is partial lay divided by a septum to prevent mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
  • blood vessels have a paired aorta
35
Q

What is included in the urogenital system?

A
  • paired kidneys
  • two ureters
  • bladder
36
Q

What is the structure of the paired kidneys?

A
  • located caudally
  • tightly adhered to the ventral surface of inside the carapace
37
Q

What is the structure of the two ureters?

A
  • they empty into the urogenital sinus (urodeum)
  • also connects with the bladder
38
Q

What is the structure of the bladder?

A
  • large billowed structure with thin walls
  • capable fo some reabsorption of water
  • acts as buoyancy aid and can reabsorb some sodium in aquatic species
39
Q

What is the structure of the males reproductive system?

A
  • only have 1 penis which lies in the ventral aspect of the cloaca at rest
  • when engorged it is protected through the vent and curves cranially
40
Q

What is the structure of females reproductive system?

A
  • fertile eggs can be carried for 4 weeks to 4 years
  • sperm can also be stored for long periods too
41
Q

Chelonian species reproductive system characteristics?

A
  • sexual maturity linked to size
  • sexual dimorphism noticed by tail length and width and their shell shape
42
Q

Sexual dimorphism in 4 chelonians species?

A

Tropical species = normally males larger than

Temperate European = normally females larger

Terrapins = males have longer forelimbs claws

Chelonians = males have more concave plastron

43
Q

What are chelonian senses?

A
  • good colour vision and have scaled eyelids
  • marine species have good vision in and out of water
  • no external ear, have eardrum but have poor hearing
  • good sense of smell
44
Q

What are African Hingebacks defence mechanism?

A
  • have modified bony layers of their shell so they are hinged
  • this allows the rear of the shell to close inwards so protecting the back legs of the tortoise
45
Q

What are Box Turtles defence mechanisms?

A
  • have a hinge on their plastron, when the turtle withdraws into the shell the 2 halves close upwards the carapace, closing the turtle inside
46
Q

What are African Pancake Tortoise defence mechanism?

A
  • has a light, soft and flat shell
  • when disturbed will run and hide in a rock crevice and inflate itself so making it impossible to remove
47
Q

What are Snapping/Soft Shell Turtles defence mechanism?

A
  • due to vulnerability from poor shell protection
  • they provide a very fast and nasty bite

YR1 EXOTICS (9 decks)

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