C h e l y d r a . O r g         

Snapping Turtles & Things 
Art  | Photography 
Main Page      | Help | About us | Contact 
 [ Updated ]
 
  Powered by 1&1
  Banner
 


   Main Page

  PUBLISHERS & BUYERS 
   sponsorship
   donations
   publishers
   advertisers
   webstats
   turtle store
   
   contact webmaster
   sign/view guestbook

  INTRODUCTION / HELP 
   turtle train
   walk turtle style
   help & sitemap
   snapping turtle club
   questions & answers
   question of the week
   + past entries
   ask question
   message forum
   turtle chat

  BASIC FACTS 
   what's a turtle ?
   prehistory
   basic anatomy
   + comm. snapper skull
   + allig. snapper skull
   + turtle embryo
   turtle dictionary
   classification

  COMMON 
  SNAPPING TURTLES 

   classification
   identification
   common vs. alligator
   4 subspecies
   + c.s.serpentina
   + c.s.osceola
   + c.s.rossignoni
   + c.s.acutirostris
   prehistory
   geographic range
   habitat
   behavior
   growth
   growth charts
   longevity
   feeding habits
   reproduction

  IN CAPTIVITY 
   acquiring a turtle
   handling snappers
   tank
   enclosure setup
   water
   filtration
   heater
   lighting
   basking light
   basic care
   feeding
   health checkups
   reptile vets
   incubator
   hatchlings

  ALLIGATOR SNAPPING
  TURTLES 

   classification
   identification
   common vs. alligator
   prehistory
   geographic range
   habitat
   behavior
   growth
   growth charts
   longevity
   feeding habits
   reproduction

  ALLIGATOR SNAPPERS 
  IN CAPTIVITY 

   acquiring a turtle
   handling snappers
   tank
   enclosure setup
   water
   filtration
   heater
   lighting
   basking light
   feeding

  ARTICLES 
   turtle personalities
   way of a hunter
   master strategist
   do they really bask ?
   climbing champions
   albino turtles
   trapping & relocation
   traveling with turtles
   misc

  REPTILE VETS 
   reptile vets - intro
   choosing a vet
   finding a vet
   reptile vet listings
   + vets USA
   + vets Canada
   + vets World

  BREEDERS 
  & PET SHOPS 

   pet shops vs. breeders
   pet shop listings
   breeders

  SNAPPERS & LAW 
   C.I.T.E.S.
   trade
   import & export
   laws for Canadians
   laws for USA

  PHOTO GALLERIES 
   common snappers
   alligator snappers
   photos by guests
   albino turtles
   turtles & our cultures
   reptile art
   other species photos

 DOWNLOADS 
   royalty free photos
   free puzzles

  OTHER TURTLE SPECIES 
   photos
   information

  BITS & PIECES 
   post a message
   links
   books
   credits
   copyright info
   about me
  
  Powered by 1&1
  Banner
 
  Sponsor links  
   Pure Healthy Water
 
 THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THE SNAPPING TURTLES  
 and PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM  
   bookmark us
 

Basic turtle anatomy 


BONE STRUCTURE

The central part of the turtles bone structure is the spine, probably the most specialized vertebral structure among vertebrates.
It has eight cervical, ten trunk vertebrae and 25 to 30 caudal vertebrae. The function of the vertebrae is to protect the spinal cord, but in turtles, since it is covered by a shell, the dorsal ( upper ) vertebrae have considerabely degenerated. The trunk vertebrae are attached to the carapace and the pelvis is fused to the carapace and plastron.
The large number of caudal vertebrae in the tail are supported by very well developed muscles and enable the movement throughout its full length.

The limb gridles are housed within the rib cage resting against the carapace and give a solid base to the sockets, enabling them to withstand strong upward pressure.

The limb bones are short, massive and very strong. Those closest to the body are made of one bone, called humerus for forelimbs and femur for hind limbs. The two more distant parallel bones are called radius and ulna for forelimbs and tibia and fibula for hind limbs.

The foot structure varies greatly among turtles, and most turtles have pentadactyl limbs - typically five claw - bearing digits in the forefoot and four claw - bearing digits with one reduced clawless digit in the hind foot.

The head of almost all the turtle species ( except the sea turtles and few other land species ) is retractable. The roof of the skull is sculpted in such a way that the jaw muscles bulge out when the jaw is rapidly closed as the head is retracted into the shell.
Also the alveolar - biting surfaces of the jaw - vary greately according to a turtle's diet. For example, the jaws of the preditory turtles like the common snapping turtle , are exeedingly sharp and hooked, for the purpose of catching and slicing prey.
( compare the common snapping turtle skull with the skull of the alligator snapping turtle )

The hyoid bones are bones not connected with the rest of the skelton. They are made up of a central body and two pairs of horns embedded in the flesh of the tongue and the neck. The hyoid body has a groove in which the windpipe ( tradhea ) lies.

More reading & related links:
 
        Basic snapping turtle info in one file - Introduction to snapping turtles.pdf (116 Kb)  

 


          
back to top      



Google
 
Web www.chelydra.org

© 1998-2006 Stan Gielewski, All Rights Reserved.

Map IP Address
Powered byIP2Location.com