DOCSLIB.ORG

The Side-Necked Turtle Family Chelidae: a Theory of Relationships Using Shared Derived Characters

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Side-Necked Turtle Family Chelidae: a Theory of Relationships Using Shared Derived Characters AMERICAN MUSEUM Noiltates PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET NEW YORK, N.Y. 10024 U.S.A. NUMBER 2620 MAY 10, 1977 EUGENE S. GAFFNEY The Side-Necked Turtle Family Chelidae: A Theory of Relationships Using Shared Derived Characters NovitatesAMERICAN MUSEUM PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10024 Number 2620, pp. 1-28, figs. 1-10, tables 1-3 May 10, 1977 The Side-Necked Turtle Family Chelidae: A Theory of Relationships Using Shared Derived Characters EUGENE S. GAFFNEY' ABSTRACT The South American and Australian side- b. Dorsal processes of exoccipitals meet medi- necked turtles of the family Chelidae are ana- ally above foramen magnum lyzed using the shared derived character tech- c. First vertebral scute narrower than second nique of Hennig. The following hypotheses of Group 4. Tribe Chelini (Phrynops, Chelus, Chelo- monophyly are tested using the characters in- dina, Hydromedusa) dicated (see fig. 10): a. Lateral margins of parietals distinctly re- Group 1. Family Chelidae (Pseudemydura, Emy- duced dura, Elseya, Platemys, Phrynops, Chelus, Group 5. Subtribe Chelina (Chelus, Chelodina, Chelodina, Hydromedusa) Hydromedusa) a. Unusually developed lateral cheek emargi- a. Cervical vertebrae longer than dorsal ver- nation tebrae b. Loss of quadratojugal b. Medial portions of jugal and postorbital c. Loss of mesoplastra facing more laterally than posteriorly Group 2. Subfamily Chelinae (Emydura, Elseya, Group 6. Infratribe Hydromedusad (Chelodina, Platemys, Phrynops, Chelus, Chelodina, Hydromedusa) Hydromedusa) a. Posterolateral process of parietal absent a. Anterior frontal process at least partially b. Extremely reduced horizontal process of separating nasals parietal Group 3. Infrafamily Chelodd (Platemys, Phry- c. Quadrate-basisphenoid contact nops, Chelus, Chelodina, Hydromedusa) d. Four claws on forefoot a. Symphyseal suture separating lower jaw rami INTRODUCTION The purpose of the present paper is to develop tles of the family Chelidae. These turtles are a theory of relationships for the side-necked tur- found in South America, with about 12 living 'Associate Curator, Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, the American Museum of Natural History; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, Columbia University. Copyright O The American Museum of Natural History 1977 ISSN 0003-0082 / Price $1.90 2 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 2620 species usually recognized, and are the dominant ABBREVIATIONS continental turtles of Australia, where about 14 ANATOMICAL living species occur. The chelids are a predom- ang, angular pa, parietal inantly carnivorous, fresh-water aquatic family art, articular pal, palatine that contains some of the strangest turtles (e.g., bo, basioccipital pf, prefrontal Chelus) as well as some of the rarest (e.g., Pseu- bs, basisphenoid pm, premaxilla demydura). There have been few attempts at ex- cor, coronoid po, postorbital plicit phylogeny reconstruction for the chelid den, dentary pr, prearticular genera and little osteologic information is avail- epi, epipterygoid pt, pterygoid able in the literature. My intention here is a ex, exoccipital qi, quadratojugal phylogeny reconstruction relying primarily on fr, frontal qu, quadrate cranial characters. ju,jugal so, supraoccipital mx, maxilla sq, squamosal My method is derived from that of Hennig na, nasal sur, surangular (1966) and others, and is often termed phyloge- op, opisthotic vo, vomer netic systematics or cladism. As I see it, this method is the closest approach in systematics to the logical criteria emphasized by Popper (1968) INSTITUTIONS as characterizing science. Popper has argued that AMNH, the American Museum of Natural His- the best science is developed in terms of hypoth- tory, New York esis formation and test, in which the tests at- FMNH, Field Museum of Natural History, Chi- tempt to falsify rather than confirm the hypoth- cago esis. In phylogeny reconstruction, hypotheses of NMNH, National Museum of Natural History, relationship are tested by character distributions Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. MCZ, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard in which the characters are analyzed in terms of University, Cambridge primitive and derived. The analysis consists of a WAM, Western Australian Museum, Perth further series of testable hypotheses. Testability, i.e., the potential to criticize and falsify a hy- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS pothesis, is the critical feature. The logical as- pects of phylogenetic systematics and a summary Once again I am grateful to Dr. Samuel B. of the method of using shared derived characters McDowell for allowing me free access to his work in phylogeny reconstruction are presented else- on chelids. Dr. Glen Storr of the Western where (Gaffney, In press; Wiley, 1975) and the Australian Museum very kindly lent me reader is referred to these works and more gen- specimens of Pseudemydura. Dr. Richard eral references (Bonde, 1974; Brundin, 1968; Zweifel, the American Museum of Natural Cracraft, 1972, 1974; Eldredge and Tattersall, History, Dr. George Zug, National Museum of 1975; Hennig, 1965). Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Although fossil chelids are not discussed here, Hymen Marx, Field Museum of Natural History, this is due more to the lack of skull material than and Dr. Emest Williams, Museum of Comparative lack of interest. I am currently engaged in a Zoology, Harvard University, helped in finding study of fossil chelids from Australia, including and lending me material in their care. Mr. John some good skull material of Miocene age. Roger Goode of Frankston, Victoria, obtained Aus- Wood has (in preparation) a study of fossil tralian specimens for me and I appreciate his chelids from South America. Other literature ref- help. erences on fossil chelids may be found in Kuhn (1964) and Mlynarski (1976). PREVIOUS WORK The higher category classification of turtles In the section on Basic Taxa (below) I include used here is developed in Gaffney (1975), and some of the more important literature references the anatomic terminology can be found in Gaff- to particular chelid genera, and here I discuss ney (1972b). some of the more pertinent literature concerning 1977 GAFFNEY: CHELIDAE 3 H FIG. 1. Lateral views of chelid skulls, measurements are midline condylo-premaxilla length. A. Emydura macquarrii (AMNH 110486; 49 mm.). B. Pseudemydura umbrina (WAM R29341; 35 mm.). C. Platemys platycephala (AMNH 74811; 28 mm.). D. Phrynops geoffroanus (AMNH 79048; 60 mm.). E. Hydromedusa tectifera (FMNH 31032; 51 mm.). F. Phrynops (Mesoclemmys) gibba (FMNH 45669; 37 mm.). G. Chelodina expansa (AMNH 108948; 75 mm.). H. Chelus fimbriata (AMNH 108955; 104 mm.). 4 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 2620 phylogeny and reviews of the whole family. Werner (1909) provided more limited infor- Attempts at phylogeny reconstruction involving mation. all or most of the genera in this family are The South American chelids are more poorly virtually nonexistent. Boulenger (1889) and Gray known than the Australian forms and there are (1864) presented "natural" keys, which may be no reviews of them. In addition to the works interpreted as phylogenies. Burbidge, Kirsch, and listed above, useful studies dealing with more Main (1974) come closest to a chelid phylogeny than one genus are Froes (1957), Luederwaldt even though their interests were primarily in the (1926), Siebenrock (1904), and Strauch (1890). Australian forms. On the basis of a phenetic analysis of biochemical data, they conclude that BASIC TAXA Emydura and Elseya have an ancestor in common not found in common with other The theory of chelid relationships developed forms. The three taxa Pseudemydura, here, uses seven generic level taxa as the Emydura-Elseya, and Chelodina are equally fundamental units in the hypothesis. The logical related; that is, they form a trichotomy in their nature of this hypothesis requires that these basic analysis. Furthermore, some South American taxa be strictly monophyletic, but rigorous tests taxa were studied serologically leading to a of monophyly, including studies of species conclusion that the Australian species form one distribution, etc., are beyond the scope of this monophyletic group and the South American paper. I do find it necessary, however, to make a species form another monophyletic group. In partial examination of this problem. general, phenetic studies using morphological My principle difficulty is the small sample of data can be resolved into primitive and derived specimens available for the named genera, and character states (or convergences, etc.) and a the absence of any cranial material objectively phylogenetic study can then deal with the identifiable for many of the species. I have done characters. In the case of serology and related my best with the material at hand, but I suspect methods have been that some of the characters will be subject to techniques numerical more variation than I have indicated. Nonethe- suggested (e.g., Farris, 1972) to analyze phenetic less, I doubt that a more extensive examination data in terms of primitive and advanced of specimens will seriously alter the character dis- characters. Nonetheless, I am not convinced of tributions as I have reported them. In my opin- the usefulness of this approach and, in any case, ion, a more important source of further tests is in Burbidge, Kirsch, and Main (1974) do not pre- other organ systems, such as jaw musculature, sent such an analysis.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • JVP 26(3) September 2006—ABSTRACTS
    Neoceti Symposium, Saturday 8:45 acid-prepared osteolepiforms Medoevia and Gogonasus has offered strong support for BODY SIZE AND CRYPTIC TROPHIC SEPARATION OF GENERALIZED Jarvik’s interpretation, but Eusthenopteron itself has not been reexamined in detail. PIERCE-FEEDING CETACEANS: THE ROLE OF FEEDING DIVERSITY DUR- Uncertainty has persisted about the relationship between the large endoskeletal “fenestra ING THE RISE OF THE NEOCETI endochoanalis” and the apparently much smaller choana, and about the occlusion of upper ADAM, Peter, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; JETT, Kristin, Univ. of and lower jaw fangs relative to the choana. California, Davis, Davis, CA; OLSON, Joshua, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, Los A CT scan investigation of a large skull of Eusthenopteron, carried out in collaboration Angeles, CA with University of Texas and Parc de Miguasha, offers an opportunity to image and digital- Marine mammals with homodont dentition and relatively little specialization of the feeding ly “dissect” a complete three-dimensional snout region. We find that a choana is indeed apparatus are often categorized as generalist eaters of squid and fish. However, analyses of present, somewhat narrower but otherwise similar to that described by Jarvik. It does not many modern ecosystems reveal the importance of body size in determining trophic parti- receive the anterior coronoid fang, which bites mesial to the edge of the dermopalatine and tioning and diversity among predators. We established relationships between body sizes of is received by a pit in that bone. The fenestra endochoanalis is partly floored by the vomer extant cetaceans and their prey in order to infer prey size and potential trophic separation of and the dermopalatine, restricting the choana to the lateral part of the fenestra.
    [Show full text]
  • Geographic Variation in the Matamata Turtle, Chelus Fimbriatus, with Observations on Its Shell Morphology and Morphometry
    n*entilkilt ilil Biok,gr', 1995. l(-l):19: 1995 by CheloninD Research Foundltion Geographic Variation in the Matamata Turtle, Chelus fimbriatus, with Observations on its Shell Morphology and Morphometry MlncBLo R. SANcnnz-Vu,urcnAr, PnrER C.H. PnrrcHARD:, ArrnEro P.rorrLLo-r, aNn Onan J. LINlnBs3 tDepartment of Biological Anthropolog-,- and Anatomy, Duke lJniversin' Medical Cetter. Box 3170, Dtu'hcun, North Carolina277l0 USA IFat 919-684-8034]; 2Florida Audubotr Societ-t, 460 High,n;a,- 436, Suite 200, Casselberry, Florida 32707 USA: iDepartanento de Esttdios Anbientales, llniyersitlad Sinzrin Bolltnt", Caracas ]O80-A, APDO 89OOO l/enerte\a Ansrucr. - A sample of 126 specimens of Chelusftmbriatus was examined for geographic variation and morphology of the shell. A high degree of variation was found in the plastral formula and in the shape and size of the intergular scute. This study suggests that the Amazon population of matamatas is different from the Orinoco population in the following characters: shape ofthe carapace, plastral pigmentation, and coloration on the underside of the neck. Additionatly, a preliminary analysis indicates that the two populations could be separated on the basis of the allometric growth of the carapace in relation to the plastron. Kry Wonus. - Reptilia; Testudinesl Chelidae; Chelus fimbriatus; turtle; geographic variationl allometryl sexual dimorphism; morphology; morphometryl osteology; South America 'Ihe matamata turtle (Chelus fimbricttus) inhabits the scute morpholo..ey. Measured characters (in all cases straight- Amazon, Oyapoque. Essequibo. and Orinoco river systems line) were: maximum carapace len.-uth (CL). cArapace width of northern South America (Iverson. 1986). Despite a mod- at the ler,'el of the sixth marginal scute (CW).
    [Show full text]
  • First Report of Neopolystoma Price, 1939 (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) with the Description of Three New Species Louis H
    Du Preez et al. Parasites & Vectors (2017) 10:53 DOI 10.1186/s13071-017-1986-y RESEARCH Open Access Tracking platyhelminth parasite diversity from freshwater turtles in French Guiana: First report of Neopolystoma Price, 1939 (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) with the description of three new species Louis H. Du Preez1,2*, Mathieu Badets1, Laurent Héritier1,3,4 and Olivier Verneau1,3,4 Abstract Background: Polystomatid flatworms in chelonians are divided into three genera, i.e. Polystomoides Ward, 1917, Polystomoidella Price, 1939 and Neopolystoma Price, 1939, according to the number of haptoral hooks. Among the about 55 polystome species that are known to date from the 327 modern living chelonians, only four species of Polystomoides are currently recognised within the 45 South American freshwater turtles. Methods: During 2012, several sites in the vicinity of the cities Cayenne and Kaw in French Guiana were investigated for freshwater turtles. Turtles were collected at six sites and the presence of polystomatid flatworms was assessed from the presence of polystome eggs released by infected specimens. Results: Among the three turtle species that were collected, no polystomes were found in the gibba turtle Mesoclemmys gibba (Schweigger, 1812). The spot-legged turtle Rhinoclemmys punctularia (Daudin, 1801) was infected with two species of Neopolystoma Price, 1939, one in the conjunctival sacs and the other in the urinary bladder, while the scorpion mud turtle Kinosternon scorpioides (Linnaeus, 1766) was found to be infected with a single Neopolystoma species in the conjunctival sacs. These parasites could be distinguished from known species of Neopolystoma by a combination of morphological characteristics including body size, number and length of genital spines, shape and size of the testis.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Xinjiangchelyid Turtle from the Middle Jurassic of Xinjiang, China and the Evolution of the Basipterygoid Process in Mesozoic Turtles Rabi Et Al
    A new xinjiangchelyid turtle from the Middle Jurassic of Xinjiang, China and the evolution of the basipterygoid process in Mesozoic turtles Rabi et al. Rabi et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2013, 13:203 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/13/203 Rabi et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2013, 13:203 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/13/203 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access A new xinjiangchelyid turtle from the Middle Jurassic of Xinjiang, China and the evolution of the basipterygoid process in Mesozoic turtles Márton Rabi1,2*, Chang-Fu Zhou3, Oliver Wings4, Sun Ge3 and Walter G Joyce1,5 Abstract Background: Most turtles from the Middle and Late Jurassic of Asia are referred to the newly defined clade Xinjiangchelyidae, a group of mostly shell-based, generalized, small to mid-sized aquatic froms that are widely considered to represent the stem lineage of Cryptodira. Xinjiangchelyids provide us with great insights into the plesiomorphic anatomy of crown-cryptodires, the most diverse group of living turtles, and they are particularly relevant for understanding the origin and early divergence of the primary clades of extant turtles. Results: Exceptionally complete new xinjiangchelyid material from the ?Qigu Formation of the Turpan Basin (Xinjiang Autonomous Province, China) provides new insights into the anatomy of this group and is assigned to Xinjiangchelys wusu n. sp. A phylogenetic analysis places Xinjiangchelys wusu n. sp. in a monophyletic polytomy with other xinjiangchelyids, including Xinjiangchelys junggarensis, X. radiplicatoides, X. levensis and X. latiens. However, the analysis supports the unorthodox, though tentative placement of xinjiangchelyids and sinemydids outside of crown-group Testudines. A particularly interesting new observation is that the skull of this xinjiangchelyid retains such primitive features as a reduced interpterygoid vacuity and basipterygoid processes.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Vol. 33, No. 3
    1. , F -6 ~.: 1/JJ/im--3'PT* JL* iLLLZW 1- : s . &, , I ' 4% Or *-* 0 4 Z 0 8 of the FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM Biological Sciences Volume 33 1988 Number 3 REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES OF SYMPATRIC FRESHWATER EMYDID TURTLES IN NORTHERN PENINSULAR FLORIDA Dale R. Jackson 3-C p . i ... h¢ 4 f .6/ I Se 4 .¢,$ I - - 64». 4 +Ay. 9.H>« UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GAINESVILLE Numbers of the BULLETIN OF TIIE FLORIDA STATE MUSEUM, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, are published at irregular intervals. Volumes contain about 300 pages and,are not necessarily completed in any one calendar year. S. DAVID WEBB, Editor OLIVER L. AUSTIN, JR., Editor Bile,ints RHODA J. BRYANT, Managing Editor Communications concerning purchase or exchange of the publications and all manuscripts should be addressed to: Managing Editor, Bulletin; Florida State Museum; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611; U.S.A. This public document was promulgated at an annual cost of $2003.53 or $2.000 per copy. It makes available to libraries, scholars, and all interested persons the results of researches in the natural sciences, emphasizing the circum- Caribbean region. ISSN: 0071-6154 CODEN: BFSBAS Publication date: 8/27 Price: $2.00 REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES OF SYMPATRIC FRESHWATER EMYDID TURTLES IN NORTHERN PENINSULAR FLORIDA Dale R. Jackson Frontispiece. Alligator nest on Payne's Prairie, Alachua County, Florida, opened to expose seven clutches of Psmdenzys nelsoni eggs and one clutch of Trioi,br ferox eggs (far lower right) surrounding the central clutch of alligator eggs. Most of the alligator eggs had been destroyed earlier by raccoons. REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES OF SYMPATRIC FRESHWATER EMYDID TURTLES IN NORTHERN PENINSULAR FLORIDA Dale R.
    [Show full text]
  • Haemogregariny Parazitující U Želv Rodu Pelusios: Fylogenetické Vztahy, Morfologie a Hostitelská Specifita
    Haemogregariny parazitující u želv rodu Pelusios: fylogenetické vztahy, morfologie a hostitelská specifita Diplomová práce Bc. Aneta Maršíková Školitel: MVDr. Jana Kvičerová, Ph.D. Školitel specialista: doc. MVDr. Pavel Široký, Ph.D. České Budějovice 2016 Maršíková A., 2016: Haemogregariny parazitující u želv rodu Pelusios: fylogenetické vztahy, morfologie a hostitelská specifita. [Haemogregarines in Pelusios turtles: phylogenetic relationships, morphology, and host specificity, MSc. Thesis, in Czech] – 68 pp., Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic. Annotation: The study deals with phylogenetic relationships, morphology and host specificity of blood parasites Haemogregarina sp. infecting freswater turtles of the genus Pelusios from Africa. Results of phylogenetic analyses are also used for clarification of phylogenetic relationships between "haemogregarines sensu lato" and genus Haemogregarina. Prohlašuji, že svoji diplomovou práci jsem vypracovala samostatně pouze s použitím pramenů a literatury uvedených v seznamu citované literatury. Prohlašuji, že v souladu s § 47b zákona č. 111/1998 Sb. v platném znění souhlasím se zveřejněním své bakalářské práce, a to v nezkrácené podobě – v úpravě vzniklé vypuštěním vyznačených částí archivovaných Přírodovědeckou fakultou - elektronickou cestou ve veřejně přístupné části databáze STAG provozované Jihočeskou univerzitou v Českých Budějovicích na jejích internetových stránkách, a to se zachováním mého autorského práva k odevzdanému textu této kvalifikační práce. Souhlasím dále s tím, aby toutéž elektronickou cestou byly v souladu s uvedeným ustanovením zákona č. 111/1998 Sb. zveřejněny posudky školitele a oponentů práce i záznam o průběhu a výsledku obhajoby kvalifikační práce. Rovněž souhlasím s porovnáním textu mé kvalifikační práce s databází kvalifikačních prací Theses.cz provozovanou Národním registrem vysokoškolských kvalifikačních prací a systémem na odhalování plagiátů.
    [Show full text]
  • Movement and Habitat Use of Australias Largest Snakenecked Turtle
    bs_bs_bannerJournal of Zoology Journal of Zoology. Print ISSN 0952-8369 Movement and habitat use of Australia’s largest snake-necked turtle: implications for water management D. S. Bower1*, M. Hutchinson2 & A. Georges1 1 Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia 2 South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, Australia Keywords Abstract freshwater; radio-telemetry; home range; weir; tortoise; river; sex differences. Hydrological regimes strongly influence ecological processes in river basins. Yet, the impacts of management regimes are unknown for many freshwater taxa in Correspondence highly regulated rivers. We used radio-telemetry to monitor the movement and Deborah S. Bower, School of Environmental activity of broad-shelled river turtles Chelodina expansa to infer the impact of and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, current water management practices on turtles in Australia’s most regulated river Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. – the Murray River. We radio-tracked C. expansa to (1) measure the range span Tel: +61 02 49212045; and examine the effect of sex, size and habitat type on turtle movement, and (2) Fax: +61 02 49 216923 examine habitat use within the river channel and its associated backwaters. C. Email: [email protected] expansa occupied all macro habitats in the river (main channel, backwater, swamp and connecting inlets). Within these habitats, females occupied discrete home *Present address: School of Environmental ranges, whereas males moved up to 25 km. The extensive movement of male and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, turtles suggests that weirs and other aquatic barriers may interfere with movement Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. and dispersal. Turtles regularly move between backwaters and the main river channel, which highlights the likely disturbance from backwater detachment, a Editor: Virginia Hayssen water saving practice in the lower Murray River.
    [Show full text]
  • Demographic Consequences of Superabundance in Krefft's River
    i The comparative ecology of Krefft’s River Turtle Emydura krefftii in Tropical North Queensland. By Dane F. Trembath B.Sc. (Zoology) Applied Ecology Research Group University of Canberra ACT, 2601 Australia A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of Applied Science (Resource Management). August 2005. ii Abstract An ecological study was undertaken on four populations of Krefft’s River Turtle Emydura krefftii inhabiting the Townsville Area of Tropical North Queensland. Two sites were located in the Ross River, which runs through the urban areas of Townsville, and two sites were in rural areas at Alligator Creek and Stuart Creek (known as the Townsville Creeks). Earlier studies of the populations in Ross River had determined that the turtles existed at an exceptionally high density, that is, they were superabundant, and so the Townsville Creek sites were chosen as low abundance sites for comparison. The first aim of this study was to determine if there had been any demographic consequences caused by the abundance of turtle populations of the Ross River. Secondly, the project aimed to determine if the impoundments in the Ross River had affected the freshwater turtle fauna. Specifically this study aimed to determine if there were any difference between the growth, size at maturity, sexual dimorphism, size distribution, and diet of Emydura krefftii inhabiting two very different populations. A mark-recapture program estimated the turtle population sizes at between 490 and 5350 turtles per hectare. Most populations exhibited a predominant female sex-bias over the sampling period. Growth rates were rapid in juveniles but slowed once sexual maturity was attained; in males, growth basically stopped at maturity, but in females, growth continued post-maturity, although at a slower rate.
    [Show full text]
  • New Records of Mesoclemmys Raniceps (Testudines, Chelidae) for the States of Amazonas, Pará and Rondônia, North Brazil, Including the Tocantins Basin
    Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 283-289 (2019) (published online on 18 February 2019) New records of Mesoclemmys raniceps (Testudines, Chelidae) for the states of Amazonas, Pará and Rondônia, North Brazil, including the Tocantins basin Elizângela Silva Brito1,*, Rafael Martins Valadão2, Fábio Andrew G. Cunha3, Cristiane Gomes de Araújo4, Patrik F. Viana5, and Izaias Fernandes Médice6 Of the 58 species of living Chelidae (Rhodin et al., Among the rare species of the genus, Mesoclemmys 2017), 20 are known from Brazil (Costa and Bérnils, raniceps (Gray, 1856), a medium-sized freshwater turtle 2018). Of these, nine occur in the Amazon basin, (approximately 330 mm carapace length - CL; Rueda- including species of the genera Chelus, Mesoclemmys, Almonacid et al., 2007), inhabits streams and flooded Platemys, Phrynops and Rhinemys (Ferrara et al., 2017). forest, but can also be found in rivers, shallow lakes and The genus Mesoclemmys is the most diverse in Brazil, temporary pools in the forest (Vogt, 2008; Ferrara et and five of the eight species of Mesoclemmys in Brazil al., 2017). Mesoclemmys raniceps is relatively easy to occur within the Amazon basin (Souza, 2005; Ferrara identify, especially as an adult. Specimens of this species et al., 2017). Species of genus Mesoclemmys are rare have a large broad head, which is approximately one and inconspicuous when compared to other freshwater quarter of the length of the CL (head width between 23- turtles, and live in hard-to-reach places, to extent that 27%). The head is dark, but may show depigmentation in populations are rarely studied. This genus represents adults, resulting in a lighter color, generally in patches, the least studied among Amazonian turtles (Vogt, 2008; as shown in Figure 2 (af).
    [Show full text]
  • The Moss-Back Alga (Cladophorophyceae, Chlorophyta) on Two Species of Freshwater Turtles in the Kimberleys
    Telopea 12(2) 279–284 The moss-back alga (Cladophorophyceae, Chlorophyta) on two species of freshwater turtles in the Kimberleys Stephen Skinner1,2, Nancy FitzSimmons3 and Timothy J. Entwisle1 1National Herbarium of New South Wales, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia 2Southern ACT Catchment Group Inc., PO Box 2056, Kambah, ACT Author for correspondence: [email protected] 3Institute for Applied Ecology, School of Resource, Environmental & Heritage Sciences, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia Abstract The range of the Australian freshwater alga Basicladia ramulosa Ducker is extended, both in its turtle hosts (Chelodina burrungandjii Thomson et al.; Emydura australis (Grey)) and in geography, to tropical northern Western Australia. Along with further morphological observations, sporangia are described for the first time in this taxon. Introduction Moss-back turtles (Fig. 1) have fascinated biologists for many years. While the carapace of a potentially amphibious turtle would be a challenging habitat for most aquatic organisms, it is perhaps surprising there are only a handful of attached algae reported from such sites. Edgren et al. (1953) detailed the range of host turtles then known in North America and the range of epizoic algae that included Rhizoclonium and Cladophora. Two further genera in the Cladophoraceae are the only macroalgae widely reported on turtle carapaces: the prostrate, spreading, endozoic (and possibly disease causing) Dermatophyton radicans Peter, and species of the heterotrichous genus Basicladia, responsible for the name ‘moss-back’. In the United States, Basicladia is considered a small epizoic genus on turtles and water snails, of three to four taxa (John 2003). Hamilton (1948) described sexual reproduction in North American species of Basicladia involving the fusion of biflagellate zooids as is commonly the case in the Cladophoraceae.
    [Show full text]
  • Universidad Nacional Del Comahue Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche
    Universidad Nacional del Comahue Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche Título de la Tesis Microanatomía y osteohistología del caparazón de los Testudinata del Mesozoico y Cenozoico de Argentina: Aspectos sistemáticos y paleoecológicos implicados Trabajo de Tesis para optar al Título de Doctor en Biología Tesista: Lic. en Ciencias Biológicas Juan Marcos Jannello Director: Dr. Ignacio A. Cerda Co-director: Dr. Marcelo S. de la Fuente 2018 Tesis Doctoral UNCo J. Marcos Jannello 2018 Resumen Las inusuales estructuras óseas observadas entre los vertebrados, como el cuello largo de la jirafa o el cráneo en forma de T del tiburón martillo, han interesado a los científicos desde hace mucho tiempo. Uno de estos casos es el clado Testudinata el cual representa uno de los grupos más fascinantes y enigmáticos conocidos entre de los amniotas. Su inconfundible plan corporal, que ha persistido desde el Triásico tardío hasta la actualidad, se caracteriza por la presencia del caparazón, el cual encierra a las cinturas, tanto pectoral como pélvica, dentro de la caja torácica desarrollada. Esta estructura les ha permitido a las tortugas adaptarse con éxito a diversos ambientes (por ejemplo, terrestres, acuáticos continentales, marinos costeros e incluso marinos pelágicos). Su capacidad para habitar diferentes nichos ecológicos, su importante diversidad taxonómica y su plan corporal particular hacen de los Testudinata un modelo de estudio muy atrayente dentro de los vertebrados. Una disciplina que ha demostrado ser una herramienta muy importante para abordar varios temas relacionados al caparazón de las tortugas, es la paleohistología. Esta disciplina se ha involucrado en temas diversos tales como el origen del caparazón, el origen del desarrollo y mantenimiento de la ornamentación, la paleoecología y la sistemática.
    [Show full text]
  • Check List 8(2): 294-297, 2012 © 2012 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (Available at Journal of Species Lists and Distribution
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ZENODO Check List 8(2): 294-297, 2012 © 2012 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of species lists and distribution N New records and distribution extensions of three species of Mesoclemmys Gray, 1863 (Testudines: Chelidae) in ISTRIBUTIO Mato Grosso state, Brazil, with observations on terrestrial D movements RAPHIC G EO Elizângela Silva de Brito 1*, Christine Strüssmann 2,3, Ricardo Alexandre Kawashita-Ribeiro 3, Drausio G N Honório Morais 4, Robson Waldemar Ávila 5 and Vitor Azarias Campos 3 O OTES 1 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Água Doce e Pesca Interior, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia. Av. André Araújo, n. 2936, N Aleixo. CEP 69060-001. Manaus, AM, Brazil. 2 Departamento de Ciências Básicas e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Agronomia, Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso. Av. Fernando Correia da Costa, n. 2367, Boa Esperança. CEP 78060-900. Cuiabá, MT, Brazil. 3 Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Instituto de Biociências. Av. Fernando Correia da Costa, n. 2367, Boa Esperança. CEP 78060-900. Cuiabá, MT, Brazil. 4 Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Campus de Botucatu, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Parasitologia. Distrito de Rubião, Caixa Postal 510. CEP 18618-000. Botucatu, SP, Brazil. 5 Universidade Regional do Cariri, Campus do Pimenta, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Rua Cel. Antonio Luiz, 1161, Bairro do Pimenta.
    [Show full text]