This Month, the Year of the Turtle Extends Its Hand to You, the Reader
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A Divergence Dating Analysis of Turtles Using Fossil Calibrations: an Example of Best Practices Walter G
Journal of Paleontology, 87(4), 2013, p. 612–634 Copyright Ó 2013, The Paleontological Society 0022-3360/13/0087-612$03.00 DOI: 10.1666/12-149 A DIVERGENCE DATING ANALYSIS OF TURTLES USING FOSSIL CALIBRATIONS: AN EXAMPLE OF BEST PRACTICES WALTER G. JOYCE,1,2 JAMES F. PARHAM,3 TYLER R. LYSON,2,4,5 RACHEL C. M. WARNOCK,6,7 7 AND PHILIP C. J. DONOGHUE 1Institut fu¨r Geowissenschaften, University of Tu¨bingen, 72076 Tu¨bingen, Germany, ,[email protected].; 2Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; 3John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center, Department of Geological Sciences, California State University at Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834, USA; 4Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC 20013, USA; 5Marmarth Research Foundation, Marmarth, ND 58643, USA; 6National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA; and 7Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK ABSTRACT—Turtles have served as a model system for molecular divergence dating studies using fossil calibrations. However, because some parts of the fossil record of turtles are very well known, divergence age estimates from molecular phylogenies often do not differ greatly from those observed directly from the fossil record alone. Also, the phylogenetic position and age of turtle fossil calibrations used in previous studies have not been adequately justified. We provide the first explicitly justified minimum and soft maximum age constraints on 22 clades of turtles following best practice protocols. Using these data we undertook a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock analysis establishing a timescale for the evolution of crown Testudines that we exploit in attempting to address evolutionary questions that cannot be resolved with fossils alone. -
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. -
M a R Y L a N D
' o J x l C a JJ¿ ' u¿»... /io hC i M A R T ü R J LES Y L w : A • i v & v ' :À N sr\lài«Q3/ D FRANK J. SCHWARTZ *IES 23102 Vlaams Instituut voor dl Zu Planden Marina Instituts MARYLAND TURTLE FRANK J. SCHWARTZ, Curator C h e s a p e a k e B i o l o g i c a l L a b o r a t o r y S o l o m o n s , M a r y l a n d University of Maryland Natural Resources Institute Educational Series No. 79 J u n e 1967 FOREWORD The 1961 publication of MARYLAND TURTLES resulted in an increased awareness of these interesting members of Maryland’s vertebrate fauna. New in formation stemming from this effort has been incorporated into this revision. The researches of Dr. J. Crenshaw, Jr. on the genus Pseudemys, especially Pseudemys floridana, Florida Cooter, has resolved much of the confusion regarding this species’ true distribution and systematica in the state. Its occurrence must now be relegated to an "introduced” or "escape” category. Additional information is also on hand to confirm the Bog Turtle’s tenacious survival in swampy-bog habitats adjacent to the Susquehanna River. Recent information has helped delineate the occurrence of the Atlantic Ridley turtle in the upper Chesapeake Bay. A new section has been added which discusses fossil turtles. It is hoped this edition will maintain interest in and further expand our knowledge of the turtles of the area. -
'Camouflage' Their Nests but Avoid Them and Create a Decoy Trail
Buried treasure—marine turtles do not ‘disguise’ or royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsos ‘camouflage’ their nests but avoid them and create a Research Cite this article: Burns TJ, Thomson RR, McLaren decoy trail RA, Rawlinson J, McMillan E, Davidson H, Kennedy — MW. 2020 Buried treasure marine turtles do not † ‘disguise’ or ‘camouflage’ their nests but avoid Thomas J. Burns , Rory R. Thomson, Rosemary them and create a decoy trail. R. Soc. Open Sci. 7: 200327. A. McLaren, Jack Rawlinson, Euan McMillan, http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.200327 Hannah Davidson and Malcolm W. Kennedy Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, and School of Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Received: 27 February 2020 University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK Accepted: 6 April 2020 TJB, 0000-0003-0408-8014; MWK, 0000-0002-0970-5264 After laying their eggs and refilling the egg chamber, sea Subject Category: turtles scatter sand extensively around the nest site. This is presumed to camouflage the nest, or optimize local conditions Organismal and Evolutionary Biology for egg development, but a consensus on its function is Subject Areas: lacking. We quantified activity and mapped the movements of hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback (Dermochelys behaviour coriacea) turtles during sand-scattering. For leatherbacks, we also recorded activity at each sand-scattering position. Keywords: For hawksbills, we recorded breathing rates during nesting as hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, leatherback an indicator of metabolic investment and compared with turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, nesting behaviour published values for leatherbacks. Temporal and inferred metabolic investment in sand-scattering was substantial for both species. -
Archelon Ischyros Fossil Replica
Reptiles & Amphibians Archelon ischyros Fossil Replica World’s Largest Known Turtle! Purchase or Lease Order: Chelonia Family: Protostegidae Genus: Archelon Species: ischyros Late Cretaceous - 74 MYBP Pierre Shale, South Dakota Archelon shared its watery domain with ammonites, mosasaurs, huge fishes, and other extinct marine animals. The live weight of this Archelon is estimated to have been more than 4500 pounds! Young and old alike, even those who have seen large dinosaur and mammal mounts, are awed at the size of the Archelon. It makes a perfect emissary to greet guests at any marine museum or large aquarium, and would be equally exciting in an exhibit of contemporary species. Details on Back P.O. Box 643 / 117 Main Street / Hill City, SD 57745 USA Ph (605) 574-4289 Fax (605) 574-2518 Web www.bhigr.com © 1990-2007 Reptiles & Amphibians Archelon ischyros Fossil Replica Specimen Background The original fossil specimen, of this largest of the world’s turtles, was collected from the Pierre Shale of South Dakota in the mid 1970’s - the most complete Archelon collected to date. Some initial preparation and stabilization of the specimen was done at that time by Peter Larson of BHI for Siber & Siber of Zurich, Switzerland. The specimen was eventually purchased by the National Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria, where it is a centerpiece exhibit. Dr. Kraig Derstler of the University of New Orleans, who has studied this Archelon extensively, reports: “Without exaggeration, the Vienna museum specimen of Archelon ischyros is one of the world’s great fossils.” Replica Details Our replica skeleton can be mounted in steep diving or more horizontal swimming poses, on a single steel support post, or hung from 3 cables. -
Turtles from Turtle Island 89
88 Ontario Archaeology No. 79/80, 2005 Tur tles from Turtle Island: An Archaeological Perspective from Iroquoia Robert J. Pearce Iroquoians believe their world, Turtle Island, was created on the back of the mythological Turtle. Archaeologically, there is abundant evidence throughout Iroquoia to indicate that the turtle was highly sym- bolic, not only of Turtle Island, but also of the Turtle clan, which was preeminent among all the Iroquoian clans. Complete turtles were modified into rattles, turtle shells and bones were utilized in a variety of sym- bolic ways, and turtle images were graphically depicted in several media. This paper explores the symbolic treatments and uses of the turtle in eastern North America, which date back to the Archaic period and evolved into the mythologies of linguistically and culturally diverse groups, including the Iroquoians, Algonquians (Anishinaabeg) and Sioux. Introduction landed on “Earth” which was formed only when aquatic animals dredged up dirt and placed it upon A Middle Woodland burial mound at Rice Lake Tur tle’s back (Figure 1). The fact that the falling yielded a marine shell carved and decorated as a Aataentsic was eventually saved by landing on Turtle turtle effigy. At the nearby Serpent Mound, was noted in almost all versions of the creation story; unmodified turtle shells were carefully placed in many sources it is noted that this was not just any alongside human skeletons. At the Middle Tur tle, but “Great Snapping Turtle” (Cornplanter Ontario Iroquoian Moatfield ossuary in North 1998:12). Jesuit Father Paul le Jeune’s 1636 version York (Toronto), the only artifact interred with specifically recorded that “aquatic animals” dredged the skeletal remains of 87 individuals was a mag- up soil to put onto Turtle’s back and that the falling nificent turtle effigy pipe. -
Download Book (PDF)
HANDBOOK INDIAN TESTUDINES HANDBOOK INDIAN TESTUDINES B. K. TIKADER Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta R. C. SHARMA Desert Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India, Jodhpur Edited by the Director ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, CALCUTTA © Government of India, 1985 Published: November, 1985 Price: Indian Rs. 150/00 Foreign : £ 20/00 $ 30/00 Printed at The Radiant Process Private Limited, Calcutta, India and Published by the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta FOREWORD One of the objectives of Zoological Survey of India is to provide comprehensive systematic accounts on various groups of the Indian fauna. To achieve this objective, the Zoological Survey of India undertakes faunistic survey programmes and publishes the results in the form of research papers and reports and under the series "Fauna of India", "The Handbooks" and "Technical Monographs" The present contribution on the Turtles and Tortoises is the sixth in the series of "Handbooks" This is a very primitive group of animals which have a role in the conservation of Nature and are an important protein source. While studies on this group of animals began at the turn of this century, intensive studies were taken up only recently. The present "Handbook" gives a comprehensive taxonomic account of all the marine, freshwater and land turtles and tortoises of India, along with their phylogeny, distribution and keys for easy identification. It includes other information, wherever known, about their biology, ecology, conservation and captive breeding. A total of 32 species and subspecies distributed over sixteen genera and five families are dealt with here. I congratulate the authors for undertaking this work which I am sure will prove useful to students and researchers in the field of Herpetology both in India and abroad. -
A Field Guide to South Dakota Turtles
A Field Guide to SOUTH DAKOTA TURTLES EC919 South Dakota State University | Cooperative Extension Service | USDA U.S. Geological Survey | South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks This publication may be cited as: Bandas, Sarah J., and Kenneth F. Higgins. 2004. Field Guide to South Dakota Turtles. SDCES EC 919. Brookings: South Dakota State University. Copies may be obtained from: Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences South Dakota State University Box 2140B, NPBL Brookings SD 57007-1696 South Dakota Dept of Game, Fish & Parks 523 E. Capitol, Foss Bldg Pierre SD 57501 SDSU Bulletin Room ACC Box 2231 Brookings, SD 57007 (605) 688–4187 A Field Guide to SOUTH DAKOTA TURTLES EC919 South Dakota State University | Cooperative Extension Service | USDA U.S. Geological Survey | South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks Sarah J. Bandas Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences South Dakota State University NPB Box 2140B Brookings, SD 57007 Kenneth F. Higgins U.S. Geological Survey South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit South Dakota State University NPB Box 2140B Brookings, SD 57007 Contents 2 Introduction . .3 Status of South Dakota turtles . .3 Fossil record and evolution . .4 General turtle information . .4 Taxonomy of South Dakota turtles . .9 Capturing techniques . .10 Turtle handling . .10 Turtle habitats . .13 Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) . .15 Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) . .17 Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) . .19 Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica) . .23 False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) . .25 Western Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata ornata) . -
Comparative Bone Histology of the Turtle Shell (Carapace and Plastron)
Comparative bone histology of the turtle shell (carapace and plastron): implications for turtle systematics, functional morphology and turtle origins Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades (Dr. rer. nat.) der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Bonn Vorgelegt von Dipl. Geol. Torsten Michael Scheyer aus Mannheim-Neckarau Bonn, 2007 Angefertigt mit Genehmigung der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn 1 Referent: PD Dr. P. Martin Sander 2 Referent: Prof. Dr. Thomas Martin Tag der Promotion: 14. August 2007 Diese Dissertation ist 2007 auf dem Hochschulschriftenserver der ULB Bonn http://hss.ulb.uni-bonn.de/diss_online elektronisch publiziert. Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Januar 2007 Institut für Paläontologie Nussallee 8 53115 Bonn Dipl.-Geol. Torsten M. Scheyer Erklärung Hiermit erkläre ich an Eides statt, dass ich für meine Promotion keine anderen als die angegebenen Hilfsmittel benutzt habe, und dass die inhaltlich und wörtlich aus anderen Werken entnommenen Stellen und Zitate als solche gekennzeichnet sind. Torsten Scheyer Zusammenfassung—Die Knochenhistologie von Schildkrötenpanzern liefert wertvolle Ergebnisse zur Osteoderm- und Panzergenese, zur Rekonstruktion von fossilen Weichgeweben, zu phylogenetischen Hypothesen und zu funktionellen Aspekten des Schildkrötenpanzers, wobei Carapax und das Plastron generell ähnliche Ergebnisse zeigen. Neben intrinsischen, physiologischen Faktoren wird die -
Sea Turtle Observation Activity
Observing a Sea Turtle from the Eastern Pacific Description: In this two‐part activity, you will observe a live sea turtle in order to identify the species of this sea turtle, and compare it to an ancient, extinct marine turtle. Part A – Sea Turtle Species Identification There are seven species of sea turtles in the world. Five of these species are found on the Eastern side of the Pacific Ocean – along the coast of Mexico and California. Today you will observe one of these turtles and make observations about its physical appearance by making use of a special identification road map called a “dichotomous key”. Review the diagram below, and then use the data table provided to record your observations. After recording your observations, use the provided key to identify the species of sea turtle. External Anatomy of a sea turtle (External = outside; Anatomy = parts of the body) Nuchal scute Prefrontal scale Front flipper Vertebral Costal (central) Top Shell / Carapace (lateral) scutes scutes Marginal scutes Rear flipper A sea turtle’s bottom shell is called the “plastron”. Images adapted from: Pritchard, P. and Mortimer J., Taxonomy, external morphology, and species identification, Found In: Eckert, K. L., Bjorndal, K. A., Abreu‐Grobois, F. A., Donnelly, M. Eds, Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication No. 4. 235 pp.; 1999, p. 21‐38. Worksheet Created By: Cali Turner Ocean Connectors 2011 www.oceanconnectors.org Observation Data Table Initial observations about -
(Chelonioidea: Cheloniidae) from the Maastrichtian of the Harrana Fauna–Jordan
Kaddumi, Gigantatypus salahi n.gen., n.sp., from Harrana www.PalArch.nl, vertebrate palaeontology, 3, 1, (2006) A new genus and species of gigantic marine turtles (Chelonioidea: Cheloniidae) from the Maastrichtian of the Harrana Fauna–Jordan H.F. Kaddumi Eternal River Museum of Natural History Amman–Jordan, P.O. Box 11395 [email protected] ISSN 1567–2158 7 figures Abstract Marine turtle fossils are extremely rare in the Muwaqqar Chalk Marl Formation of the Harrana Fauna in comparison to the relatively rich variety of other vertebrate fossils collected from this locality. This paper reports and describes the remains of an extinct marine turtle (Chelonioidea) which will be tentatively assigned to a new genus and species of marine turtles (Cheloniidae Bonaparte, 1835) Gigantatypus salahi n.gen., n.sp.. The new genus represented by a single well–preserved right humerus, reached remarkably large proportions equivalent to that of Archelon Wieland, 1896 and represents the first to be found from this deposit and from the Middle East. The specimen, which exhibits unique combinations of features is characterized by the following morphological features not found in other members of the Cheloniidae: massive species reaching over 12 feet in length; a more prominently enlarged lateral process that is situated more closely to the head; a ventrally situated capitellum; a highly laterally expanded distal margin. The presence of these features may warrant the placement of this new species in a new genus. The specimen also retains some morphological features found in members of advanced protostegids indicating close affinities with the family. Several bite marks on the ventral surface of the fossilized humerus indicate shark–scavenging activities of possibly Squalicorax spp. -
References for Life History
Literature Cited Adler, K. 1979. A brief history of herpetology in North America before 1900. Soc. Study Amphib. Rept., Herpetol. Cir. 8:1-40. 1989. Herpetologists of the past. In K. Adler (ed.). Contributions to the History of Herpetology, pp. 5-141. Soc. Study Amphib. Rept., Contrib. Herpetol. no. 5. Agassiz, L. 1857. Contributions to the Natural History of the United States of America. 2 Vols. Little, Brown and Co., Boston. 452 pp. Albers, P. H., L. Sileo, and B. M. Mulhern. 1986. Effects of environmental contaminants on snapping turtles of a tidal wetland. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol, 15:39-49. Aldridge, R. D. 1992. Oviductal anatomy and seasonal sperm storage in the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Copeia 1992:1103-1106. Aldridge, R. D., J. J. Greenshaw, and M. V. Plummer. 1990. The male reproductive cycle of the rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus). Amphibia-Reptilia 11:165-172. Aldridge, R. D., and R. D. Semlitsch. 1992a. Female reproductive biology of the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Amphibia-Reptilia 13:209-218. 1992b. Male reproductive biology of the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Amphibia-Reptilia 13:219-225. Alexander, M. M. 1943. Food habits of the snapping turtle in Connecticut. J. Wildl. Manag. 7:278-282. Allard, H. A. 1945. A color variant of the eastern worm snake. Copeia 1945:42. 1948. The eastern box turtle and its behavior. J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 23:307-321. Allen, W. H. 1988. Biocultural restoration of a tropical forest. Bioscience 38:156-161. Anonymous. 1961. Albinism in southeastern snakes. Virginia Herpetol. Soc. Bull.