Turtle-Word Dictionary (Click Here For Reference) |
Well, I myself may not use all these terms, but incase you ever run into a word you don't know related to chelonians, here's a great place to check. In fact, now is a good time to scroll down to see what chelonian means.
(Not yet fully alphabetized, still under construction!) |
A
Abdominal Scute - The middle pair of plastral scutes
Anal Scutes - The rearmost pair of plastral scutes (bellow the tail).
Anterior - Towards the front of the shell
Aquatic - Lives in water.
Areola - The center are of a scute.
Axillary Scutes - A small plastral scutes opposite the armpits.
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B
Bask - To sunbath in a warm atmosphere.
Beak - A horny plate covering the jaws.
Bridge - Part of the shell that connects the Carapace and Plastron together.
Brumation - Hibernate-like state.
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C
Carapace - The top shell, the dorsal (back) of the turtle.
Carnivore - Meat-eating animal.
Caruncle - The Egg Tooth, a small horned bone on the snout of baby turtles, used to escape the egg shell.
Caudial - The tail region
Central Scute - The Vertebral Scutes, five large scutes extending down the middle of the carapace.
Chelonian - Referring to any species/family of turtle, tortoise, or terrapene.
Cloaca - The Vent, The posterior part of the intestinal tract in chelonians.
Clutch - A group of eggs laid by a female
Costal Scutes - Pleural Scutes, four large scutes running along each side of the centrals
Cruro- The thigh or leg
Cryptozoic - conducting a hidden or secluded way of life
Cusp - A sharp projection at the end of the jaw.
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E
Endemic - Naturally restricted to a particular area
Epiplastron - The two anteriormost bones in the plastron
Estivation - Inactivity during long periods of drought or high temperatures
Egg Binding - A condition when a female turtle is unable to lay her eggs.
Egg Tooth - Caruncle, a small horned bone on the snout of baby turtles, used to escape the egg shell.
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F
Fontanelle - Opening present in young turtles skull or shell, filled with maturity.
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G
Glottis - closable opening in the floor of the mouth into which the windpipe opens
Gular scutes - The foremost scutes of the plastron.
Genetic - Pertaining to genes.
Genus - A category of biological classification ranking between family and species.
Gestation - The period between fertilization and the laying of the eggs.
Gravid - Having eggs.
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H
Humeral Scutes - The second pair of scutes (bellow the front legs).
Hyoplastra - the second front most pair of plastral bones
Hypoplastra - the second rearmost pair of plastral bones
Habitat - An environment where an animal resides
Hatchling - The reptile just after it leaves its egg.
Herpetology - The study of reptiles and amphibians.
Hibernation - Winter inactivity where specific biological changes occur..
Hinge - A moveable joint in the shell.
Hybrid - An offspring from parents who are not the same species or subspecies.
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I
Inguinal notch - A notch at the rear of the bridge where the hind legs protrude
Inguinal scutes - scutes just in front of the inguinal notch
Intergular scute - a sometimes present small scute which separates the gular scutes
Incubation - The phase of the egg after being laid and before hatching.
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J
Juvenile - The ages between one year old and not yet sexually mature
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K
Keel - A lengthwise ridge running lengthwise along the carapace, usually the center.
Keratin - Fibrous protein present in structures such as the carapace scutes, beaks and claws.
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L
Lamella - A thin plate made from bone or keratin
Lateral - Pertaining to the side.
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M
Marginal Scutes - Several small scutes along the edge of the carapace.
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N
Nuchal bone - large bone at the front of the turtles carapace
Nuchal scute - A small, single scute at the front of the carapace.
Nares - The openings to the nasal cavity.
Nitrate - The final stage of digestive filtration, containing ammonia and nitrate. Many turtles and tortoises expel this, appearing as a white, thick substance when eliminating.
Nocturnal - Active at night.
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O
Ocellus - A ring shaped (often with a dark center) marking
Ovipositor - A soft tubular structure extruded from the vent during oviposition of eggs
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P
Palpate - Feeling an animal's body/bones (sometimes to see if it is gravid)
Papilla - A soft elongate protruberance
Pectorial Scutes - The third pair of the plastral scutes
Pedicle - a thickened area of bone designed to withstand weight or pressure
Plastron - The bottom part of the shell
in chelonians.
Postorbital - A scale or other structure behind the eye
Pygal - the rearmost bone in turtles carapace
Pleural scutes - Costal Scutes, four large scutes running along each side of the Vertebral Scutes (centrals)
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R
Rathke's Glants - Glants from which some turtles can exude a highly odorous secretion
Renal - Pertaining to the kidneys.
RH - Stands for 'Relative Humidity'.
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S
Seam - The line between scutes.
Supracaudal Scutes - Two scutes (sometimes fused) at the end of the carapace
Supramarginal scutes - Scutes located between the pleural (costals) and marginals
Sympatric - Occupying the same geographic area
SCL - Means to measure the 'Straight Carapace Length' of a turtle.
Scute - The scales covering the bones of a turtles shell.
Serrated - Jagged/saw shaped edge
Subcutaneous - Beneath the skin.
Subspecies - A subdivision of a single species.
Substrate - The bedding used on the flooring of an enclosure.
Suture - The seams between two boney areas.
Systemic - Affecting the entire body.
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T
Tachycardia - A rapid heart rate, (greater than 100 beats per minute.)
Temporal - the sides of the scull behind eyes
Tubercle - A small lump
Tuberosity - A large tubercle
Tympanum - A vibrating surface which forms the external ear in turtles
Temperate - Environments where winter and summer is experienced.
Terrestrial - Living on the ground.
Tomium - The sharp beak of a turtle.
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X
Xeric - Term used to describe dry environments
Xiphiplastra - The rearmost pair of plastral bones
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