Knowra Testudines Testudines Testudines is the reptile order containing all living turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. Its members are distinguished by a bony or cartilaginous shell formed from modified ribs and vertebrae.
Turtle shell : A turtle’s protective structure, formed from the carapace, plastron, and connecting tissues. Its integration with the skeleton is Testudines’ defining anatomical feature.
Turtle respiration : The process by which turtles ventilate their lungs using muscles that move internal organs and body walls. A rigid shell prevents the rib movements used for breathing by most other reptiles.
Green sea turtle : A large marine turtle found in tropical and subtropical seas, named for the color of its body fat. It exemplifies the marine branch of Testudines and long-distance ocean migration.
Pappochelys : An extinct Triassic reptile from Germany, known from fossils with broadened ribs and a partial plastron. Its anatomy documents an early stage in the evolution of the turtle shell.
Turtle conservation : The protection and recovery of turtle species, populations, and habitats. Many turtle species face overlapping threats that require conservation across land and water.
Carapace : The dorsal section of a turtle’s shell, composed of bone and overlying scutes. It forms the upper shell and incorporates expanded vertebrae and ribs.
Turtle locomotion : The ways turtles move on land and in water using limbs adapted to different habitats. Limbs range from weight-bearing legs to flippers, reflecting the order’s diverse lifestyles.
Leatherback sea turtle : The largest living turtle, a deep-diving marine species with a flexible, leathery covering instead of a hard shell. Its reduced bony shell shows how far a turtle’s protective structure can vary.
Eunotosaurus : An extinct Permian reptile from South Africa with broadened ribs and a turtle-like body form. It is a key fossil in hypotheses about the early evolution of turtles.
Sea turtle bycatch : The accidental capture of sea turtles in fishing gear intended for other animals. Bycatch is a major human-caused source of injury and mortality for marine turtles.
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