BIO 370 — Vertebrate Zoology
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Vertebrate Anatomy
Turtle Skeleton
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Identify the listed structures on the skeleton of a turtle

  • Acromion
  • Carpals
  • Coracoid
  • Femur
  • Fibula
  • Humerus
  • Ilium
  • Ischium
  • Mandible
  • Metacarpals
  • Metatarsals
  • Phalanges
  • Pubis
  • Radius
  • Ribs (fused to carapace)
  • Scapula
  • Skull
  • Tarsals
  • Tibia
  • Ulna
  • Vertebrae:
    -Caudal
    -Cervical (incl. Atlas, Axis)
    -Thoracic
    Carapace Scutes:
    • Marginals
    • Pleurals
    • Vertebrals
    Plastron Bony Plates:
    • Epiplastron (from clavicle)
    • Hyoplastron (from gastralia)
    • Hypoplastron (from gastralia)
    • Xiphiplastron (from gastralia)
Turtle skeleton Turtle shell

Check Your Answers!


Turtle Shells


Tortoise carapace missing most epidermal scutes except for marginal scutes:
Tortoise shell


Pond Slider carapace missing numerous epidermal scutes:
Turtle shell
This page last updated 6 June 2021 by Udo M. Savalli ()
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