carapace | biology | Britannica.com Carapace THIS IS A DIRECTORY PAGE. Britannica does not currently have an article on this topic. Turtle skeleton (A) Plastron and (B) carapace, showing the relationship between bony and horny parts of the shell of a freshwater turtle. Shaded areas indicate parts of horny shell; dark lines indicate joints in underlying bone. (C) Relationship between the dermal bones (plastron and carapace) and the axial skeleton in a marine turtle. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Learn about this topic in these articles: in boxfish any of a small group of shallow-water marine fishes of the family Ostraciontidae (or Ostraciidae), distinguished by a hard, boxlike, protective carapace covering most of the body. The alternative name cowfish refers to the hornlike projections on the heads of some species. The members of the family, found along the bottom in warm and tropical seas throughout the world, are considered good to... in crustacean: General features The carapace is a widespread crustacean feature, arising during development as a fold from the last somite at the back of the head.

It may form a broad fold extending toward the rear over the back, or dorsal surface, of the trunk, as in the notostracan tadpole shrimps, but it often encloses the entire trunk, including limbs and gills. In the clam shrimps (orders Spinicaudata and Laevicaudata)... in malacostracan: Size range and diversity of structure From the hindmost (maxillary) segment projects a head shield, or carapace, which in primitive forms is large and covers the thorax, leg bases, and gill chamber. It may be fused to the dorsum of the thorax, as in the euphausiids, decapods, and other members of the superorder Eucarida, but it is variously reduced and fused only to the anterior thoracic segments in mysids or lost altogether in the... in turtle ...in a bony shell, including tortoises. Although numerous animals, from invertebrates to mammals, have evolved shells, none has an architecture like that of turtles. The turtle shell has a top ( carapace) and a bottom (plastron).

The carapace and plastron are bony structures that usually join one another along each side of the body, creating a rigid skeletal box. This box, composed of bone... in turtle: Form and function The turtle’s shell is an adaptation that protects it from predators. The carapace and plastron each arose from two types of bone: dermal bones that form in the skin and endochondral bone derived from the skeleton. Evolution has intricately linked these two types of bone to produce the shell of modern turtles. The carapace consists of 10 trunk vertebrae and their ribs, which are overlain by and... in percussion instrument: The Americas Scrapers are highly popular. The notched gourd with natural handle, called guiro, is another African American instrument. Notched turtle carapaces are scraped in the Caribbean. The jawbone of a horse, mule, or donkey, with its teeth left in, is played throughout the Americas; its use among coastal Peruvians of African descent goes back to the 18th century. In the United States it has been used...

in stringed instrument: The lyre ...the lyre to Hermes, who had stolen Apollo’s cows and, in order to atone for his transgression, presented the god with the lyre, which he had accidentally discovered when he brushed against a turtle carapace that lay on the ground and, as he did so, heard its sinews begin to vibrate. The tale is interesting for two reasons: first, the turtle shell was, in fact, frequently used as the resonator... Carapace - definition of carapace by The Free Dictionary Carapace - definition of carapace by The Free Dictionary Related to carapace: gastric mill , Swimmerets car·a·pace (kăr′ə-pās′) n. 1. Zoology A hard bony or chitinous outer covering, such as the fused dorsal plates of a turtle or the portion of the exoskeleton covering the head and thorax of a crustacean. 2. A protective, shell-like covering likened to that of a turtle or crustacean: "He used to worry that Sarah would age the same way, develop the same brittle carapace" (Anne Tyler).

[French, from Spanish carapacho.] carapax n (Zoology) the thick hard shield, made of chitin or bone, that covers part of the body of crabs, lobsters, tortoises, etc [C19: from French, from Spanish carapacho, of unknown origin] car•a•pace (ˈkær əˌpeɪs) n. a bony or chitinous shield, test, or shell covering some or all of the dorsal part of an animal, as of a turtle. [1830–40; < French < Sp carapacho] car′a•paced`, adj. car·a·pace (kăr′ə-pās′) A hard outer covering or shell made of bone or chitin on the back of animals such as turtles, armadillos, lobsters, and crabs.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: turtle - any of various aquatic and land reptiles having a bony shell and flipper-like limbs for swimming arthropod - invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body with an exoskeleton made of chitin cuticula - the outer body wall of an insect scute - large bony or horny plate as on an armadillo or turtle or the underside of a snake mollusc , mollusk , shellfish - invertebrate having a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a shell shell - the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals Translations carapace n → Schale f; (of tortoise etc) → (Rücken) panzer m Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Carapax References in classic literature ?

This is the case with the male Ibla, and in a truly extraordinary manner with the Proteolepas: for the carapace in all other cirripedes consists of the three highly-important anterior segments of the head enormously developed, and furnished with great nerves and muscles; but in the parasitic and protected Proteolepas, the whole anterior part of the head is reduced to the merest rudiment attached to the bases of the prehensile antennae. Wilbert Funeral Services' Commemorating First Responders Program Helps 114 Fallen First Responder Families in 2014 The genus has a strong association with grasses and displays several co-evolved, adaptive characteristics such as a very elongate abdomen, a flat carapace, and light- to dark-brown longitudinal bands along the carapace and abdomen, all of which aid crypsis in grasses. A revision of the Afrotropical species of Festucula Simon, 1901 (Araneae: Salticidae) As a result, the identification of North American glyptodonts relies mostly on characters of the carapace and osteoderms (Gillette and Ray, 1981).

Two new glyptodont records (Mammalia: Cingulata) from the late Pleistocene of Tamaulipas and Tlaxcala, Mexico: implications for the taxonomy of the genus Glyptotherium Despite morphological convergences inherent to mimicry, there are many characteristics (not directly involved with mimicry) that are useful for differentiating genera (Reiskind 1969) including relative size of the eyes, arrangement of the eye rows, elongation of the carapace and abdomen, leg morphology, presence of diagnostic spines or setae, integument textures, dorsal and ventral abdominal sclerites, pigmentation, etc. The spider genus Mazax (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae) newly recorded from South America, with the description of a new species We investigate length and weight, carapace, chelae, and abdomen relationships among male form I and II, female, and juvenile individuals of O. Carapaces - definition of carapaces by The Free Dictionary Carapaces - definition of carapaces by The Free Dictionary (kăr′ə-pās′) n. 1.

Zoology A hard bony or chitinous outer covering, such as the fused dorsal plates of a turtle or the portion of the exoskeleton covering the head and thorax of a crustacean. 2. A protective, shell-like covering likened to that of a turtle or crustacean: "He used to worry that Sarah would age the same way, develop the same brittle carapace" (Anne Tyler). [French, from Spanish carapacho.] carapax n (Zoology) the thick hard shield, made of chitin or bone, that covers part of the body of crabs, lobsters, tortoises, etc [C19: from French, from Spanish carapacho, of unknown origin] car•a•pace (ˈkær əˌpeɪs) n. a bony or chitinous shield, test, or shell covering some or all of the dorsal part of an animal, as of a turtle. [1830–40; < French < Sp carapacho] car′a•paced`, adj.

car·a·pace (kăr′ə-pās′) A hard outer covering or shell made of bone or chitin on the back of animals such as turtles, armadillos, lobsters, and crabs. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: turtle - any of various aquatic and land reptiles having a bony shell and flipper-like limbs for swimming arthropod - invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body with an exoskeleton made of chitin cuticula - the outer body wall of an insect scute - large bony or horny plate as on an armadillo or turtle or the underside of a snake mollusc , mollusk , shellfish - invertebrate having a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a shell shell - the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals Translations Green Sea Turtle - National Wildlife Federation Green Sea Turtle Genus: Chelonia Species: mydas Green sea turtles are rarely seen on land, but when they do make it to shore, they can stop traffic – beach traffic that is. Green sea turtles are an endangered species with drastically reduced population sizes.

Females use beaches throughout the southeast United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii to lay their eggs. Although it might seem like an inconvenience to have a stretch of beach shut down to make way for turtles, the alternative is much more devastating. These majestic giants of the ocean depend on our support and protection to ensure that they do not go extinct. So remember on your next summer vacation to make way for the turtles, because they need the beach much more than we do. Description: A green sea turtle's shell (called a carapace) is the largest and most noticeable part of the animal. The shell covers most of the body, except for the flippers and head. Despite its name, a green sea turtle's shell is not always green. The shell can be a blend of different colors including, brown, dark olive, gray or black. The shell is also smooth and heart-shaped. The underside of the shell (called the plastron) is a yellowish-white color. Green sea turtles actually received their colorful name from the color of their subdermal (underneath the skin) body fat. Unlike many other turtle species, sea turtles cannot retract their head into their shell. The head has brown and yellow markings.

Green sea turtles have paddle-like limbs called flippers whcih allow the turtle to move quickly and easily through the water. Size: Green sea turtles are really big! They can grow to 3 - 4 feet (91 - 122 cm) in length. They are very dense and heavy animals. An adult green sea turtle can weigh upwards of 300 - 350 pounds (136 - 159 kg)! Despite their size, they are still not the world's largest sea turtles - that title belongs to the leatherback sea turtle! Diet: Adult green sea turtles are herbivores. The jaw is serrated to help the turtle easily chew their primary food source -- seagrasses and algae. Juvenile green sea turtles are omnivores. They eat a wide variety of plant and animal life, including insects, crustaceans, seagrasses and worms. Typical Lifespan: Green sea turtles live very long lives. It takes at least 20 - 50 years to reach sexual maturity and a healthy individual can expect to live 80-100 years or even more! A lot is still unknown about the life history of green sea turtles.

Habitat: Green sea turtles have ocean water habitats and nesting habitats. Once a green sea turtle hatches and heads into ocean waters, it rarely returns to land. Instead, it feeds on off-shore plant blooms around islands and beaches. Green sea turtles stay in shallow waters off-shore until the breeding season. They will travel long distances, even across oceans, to return to their preferred breeding site. In the nesting season females emerge onto warm beaches around the world to lay their eggs. Range: Green sea turtles are found around the world in warm subtropical and tropical ocean waters, and nesting occurs in over 80 different countries. There are populations with different colorings and markings in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. In the United States, you are most likely to see green sea turtles on the Hawaiian Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the east coast of Florida. Less frequent nesting also occurs on the Atlantic coast in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Life History and Reproduction: The breeding season occurs in late spring and early summer. The males arrive in off-shore waters first and wait for the females to come to the beaches. Adult males can breed every year, but females only breed every 3-4 years or so.

A few weeks after mating, a female green sea turtle arrives on the beach and digs a hole in the ground for her eggs. Inside the hole, she lays over 75 - 200 eggs and then covers the hole with sand. At this point, her role is complete and she leaves her eggs to fend for themselves. A female green sea turtle can lay several clutches of eggs before she leaves the nesting grounds. After approximately two months, the eggs hatch and the hatchlings make their way to the water. The newly hatched green sea turtles are very susceptible to predators, exposure and losing their way. Birds, mammals and other predators love feasting on the young turtles. One of the greatest threats to hatchlings is light pollution near beach nesting sites. The light from buildings and homes confuses the young turtles so that they crawl towards the light and not the ocean. For green sea turtle hatchlings that reach the water, it will be at least 10-25 years before they themselves can breed. Females prefer to lay their eggs at their own nesting beach. Every 3-4 years when the females breed, they make a long migration back to their natal beach.

Threats to Green Sea Turtles: Direct and Indirect Overexploitation - Green sea turtles and their food are over hunted. Conservation Efforts: Green sea turtles are protected by national and state laws, as well as international treaties. They are listed on the Endangered Species List -- listed as endangered in the state of Florida and as threatened in other state coastal areas where they are found. Bycatch of green sea turtles (accidental capture by commercial and sport fishermen) is being reduced by fishing gear modifications (i.e. use of TED’s or turtle exclusion devices), changes to fishing practices and closures of certain areas to fishing during nesting and hatching seasons. Designation of critical habitat areas in coastal waters around parts of Puerto Rico. Encourage use of low pressure sodium lighting along beach nesting areas Regular monitoring of green sea turtle populations by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Sources: Loggerhead Sea Turtle - National Wildlife Federation Loggerhead Sea Turtle Genus: Caretta Species: caretta Loggerheads were named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. The most common sea turtle in U. S. coastal waters.

the loggerhead sea turtle was listed as threatened throughout its range on July 28, 1978, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and has received Federal protection since that time. Description: The adult loggerhead has a slightly heart-shaped, reddish-brown carapace (top shell of a turtle) consisting of five or more pleural scutes and a yellow plastron (bottom shell of a turtle). Adult males are distinguished by long tails that extend beyond the rear carapace in addition to a narrowing of the carapace that tapers towards the rear. Hatchlings have light to dark gray/brown shells. Their flippers are dark brown with white edges and their belly is a faded yellow. Diet: Loggerheads are carnivores, subsisting on crustaceans, fish, and other marine animals. The hatchlings feed on small animals living in the sea grass-like algal mats called sargassum, where they spend their early developmental years. Juveniles and adults eat mostly bottom dwelling invertebrates such as whelks, other mollusks, horseshoe crabs, and sea urchins. Their powerful jaws are designed to crush their prey.

Size: Loggerheads in the southeastern U.S. weigh an average of 250 lbs (113 kg) and are generally about 36 inches (92 cm) long. Habitat: Loggerheads can be found hundreds of miles out to sea or in inshore waters — bays, lagoons, salt marshes, creeks, ship channels, and the mouths of large rivers. Coral reefs, rocky places, and ship wrecks draw large amounts of marine life and are great feeding areas. Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches and occasionally on estuarine (where a river meets the sea) shorelines with suitable sand. Nests are typically made between the high tide line and the dune front. Most loggerhead hatchlings originating from U.S. beaches are believed to lead a pelagic (open sea) existence in the North Atlantic for an extended period of time, perhaps as long as 10 to 12 years, and are best known from the eastern Atlantic near the Azores and Madeira.

As mentioned previously, post-hatchlings take cover in floating mats of sargassum, but once they reach a certain size, these juvenile loggerheads begin "recruiting" to coastal areas in the western Atlantic where they become "benthic" feeders in lagoons, estuaries, bays, river mouths, and shallow coastal waters. These juveniles occupy coastal feeding grounds for a decade or more before maturing and making their first reproductive migration. Typical Lifespan: Scientists believe that loggerheads are long lived and could live to 50 years or more. Range: The loggerhead sea turtle is a wide-ranging species, occuring throughout the temperate sub-tropical and tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the Atlantic, the loggerhead turtle's range extends from Newfoundland to as far south as Argentina. In the eastern Pacific, loggerheads have been reported as far north as Alaska, and as far south as Chile. In the U.S., occasional sightings are reported from the coasts of Washington and Oregon, but most records are of juveniles off the coast of California. The west coast of Mexico, including the Baja Peninsula, provides critically important developmental habitats for juvenile loggerheads.

The only known nesting areas for loggerheads in the North Pacific are found in southern Japan. Adult loggerheads are known to make extensive migrations between foraging areas and nesting beaches. During non-nesting years, adult females from U.S. beaches are distributed in waters off the eastern U.S. and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Yucatán. Life History and Reproduction: Female loggerheads reach maturity at about 35 years of age. Every 2-3 years, they mate in coastal waters and then return to nest on the very same beach where they were hatched, called the "natal" beach. The nesting season begins in April and ends in September, with the peak in June. They emerge onto the beach at night every 14 days, laying an average of 4 clutches containing roughly 100 – 120 eggs in each. Sex of hatchlings is determined by incubation temperature. Warmer temperatures result in the great majority being females and cooler temperatures produce mainly or only males. The majority of loggerhead nesting occurs in the western rims of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, primarily in Oman, the United States, and Australia. The greatest nesting concentrations in the U.S.

occur on beaches from North Carolina through southwest Florida, and minimal nesting extends westward to Texas and northward to southern Virginia. Of the loggerhead nesting activity within the southeastern U.S., about 80% occurs in six Florida counties (Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties). In Brevard and Indian River Counties, a 20 mile section of coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso Beach comprises the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR), which is the most important loggerhead nesting area in the western hemisphere. Nesting densities of 1,000 nests per mile (625 nests per km) are recorded for beaches within the ACNWR. Threats: Loggerhead turtles have long been hunted for their eggs and for leather. Other threats include: Loss or degradation of nesting habitat from coastal development and beach armoring Disorientation of hatchlings by beachfront lighting Excessive nest predation by native and non-native predators Degradation of foraging habitat Marine pollution (including oil spills) and debris Watercraft strikes Disease Incidental take from channel dredging and commercial trawling, longline, and gill net fisheries.

Directed harvest – The migratory nature of loggerheads severely compromises conservation efforts once they move outside U.S. waters, however, since legal and illegal fisheries activities in some countries are causing high mortality on loggerhead sea turtle nesting populations of the western north Atlantic region. Conservation Efforts: Loggerhead sea turtles are protected by various international treaties and agreements as well as national laws such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). In 2008 NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) updated the recovery plan for the loggerhead turtle. Bycatch of loggerhead turtles (accidental capture by commercial and sport fishermen) is being reduced by fishing gear modifications (i.e. use of TED’s or turtle exclusion devises), changes to fishing practices and closures of certain areas to fishing during nesting and hatching seasons. Many coastal counties and communities in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have developed lighting ordinances to reduce hatchling disorientations. Important U.S. nesting beaches have been and continue to be acquired for long-term protection.

Regular monitoring of loggerhead turtle populations by NMFS and USFWS, and further research on the biology, life cycle, and migration patterns is needed to help develop effective conservation methods. Sources: Anatomy of the Turtle's Shell Anatomy of The Turtle's Shell The turtle lives 'twixt plated decks Which practically conceal its sex I think it clever of the turtle In such a fix to be so fertile. -Ogden Nash turtle shell anatomy scutes turtle shell anatomy scutes Turtles are reptiles whose protection comes from a shell. The shell is composed of hard, bone plates covered by scutes. The scutes are made of keratin, the primary substance in hair, nails and hooves of other animals. The pigment melanin, present in the scutes, may form intricate designs and brightly colored patterns in some species. The scutes of most turtles are arranged somewhat like the examples below. Although the scutes form the familiar outer layer of the shell, it is the bony layer underneath which actually provides the shape, support and protective qualities of the turtle shell. The inner layer of bone is fused with the usual bony structures associated with all vertebrates, vthe vertebral column and ribs.

The vertebrae are particularly interesting for the modifications that have occurred. The vertebrae of the neck and tail are small, allowing for a high degree of flexiblility, while the vertebrae of the central portion of the vertebral column are enormously elongated and inflexible, fused with the bony layer of the shell, acting as a support for the carapace. There are many health implications associated with shell anatomy. For instance, if the outer keratin is breached by infection or injury, the turtle can lose its protection and infection can proceed into the bony layer and the body cavity, threatening the turtle's life. Another example is that the rigid shell prevents motion of the ribs. Because of this, turtles lack the diaphragm that allows other animals to cough. If fluid enters the lungs (which are located just under the carapace) pneumonia presents deadly dangers since the turtle will not be able to easily rid itself of the fluid, and infection is likely. Although the shell provides excellent protection from many predators, it can also make the turtle vulnerable to health problems if it is not given good care in captivity.

turtle shell anatomy scutes Quick Facts on Federally-listed Sea Turtles Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) FAMILY: Cheloniidae STATUS: Breeding colony populations in Florida and on the Pacific Coast of Mexico are listed as Endangered; all others are listed as Threatened (Federal Register, July 28, 1978). DESCRIPTION: The green sea turtle grows to a maximum size of about 4 feet and a weight of 440 pounds. It has a heart-shaped shell, small head, and single-clawed flippers. Color is variable. Hatchlings generally have a black carapace, white plastron, and white margins on the shell and limbs. The adult carapace is smooth, keelless, and light to dark brown with dark mottling; the plastron is whitish to light yellow. Adult heads are light brown with yellow markings. Identifying characteristics include four pairs of costal scutes, none of which borders the nuchal scute, and only one pair of prefrontal scales between the eyes. Hatchling green turtles eat a variety of plants and animals, but adults feed almost exclusively on seagrasses and marine algae.

For more information on Green sea turtles go here. Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) FAMILY: Cheloniidae STATUS: Endangered throughout its range (Federal Register, June 2, 1970). DESCRIPTION: The hawksbill is a small to medium-sized marine turtle having an elongated oval shell with overlapping scutes on the carapace, a relatively small head with a distinctive hawk-like beak, and flippers with two claws. General coloration is brown with numerous splashes of yellow, orange, or reddish-brown on carapace. The plastron is yellowish with black spots on the intergular and postanal scutes. Juveniles are black or very dark brown with light brown or yellow coloration on the edge of the shell, limbs, and raised ridges of the carapace. As an adult, the hawksbill may reach up to 3 feet in length and weigh up to 300 pounds, although adults more commonly average about 2½ feet in length and weigh between 95 to 165 pounds.

It is the only sea turtle with a combination of two pairs of prefrontal scales on the head and four pairs of costal scutes on the carapace. The hawksbill feeds primarily on sponges and is most often associated with the coral reef community. For more information on Hawksbill sea turtles go here. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii FAMILY: Cheloniidae STATUS: Endangered throughout its range (Federal Register, December 2, 1970). DESCRIPTION: The Kemp’s ridley turtle is one of the smallest of the sea turtles, with adults reaching about 2 feet in length and weighing up to 100 pounds. The adult Kemp’s ridley has an oval carapace that is almost as wide as it is long and is usually olive-gray in color. The carapace has five pairs of costal scutes. In each bridge adjoining the plastron to the carapace, there are four inframarginal scutes, each of which is perforated by a pore. The head has two pairs of prefrontal scales. Hatchlings are black on both sides.

The Kemp’s ridley has a triangular-shaped head with a somewhat hooked beak with large crushing surfaces. This turtle is a shallow water benthic feeder with a diet consisting primarily of crabs. Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) FAMILY: Dermochelyidae STATUS: Endangered throughout its range (Federal Register, June 2, 1970). DESCRIPTION: The leatherback is the largest, deepest diving, and most migratory and wide ranging of all sea turtles. The adult leatherback can reach 4 to 8 feet in length and 500 to 2000 pounds in weight. Its shell is composed of a mosaic of small bones covered by firm, rubbery skin with seven longitudinal ridges or keels. The skin is predominantly black with varying degrees of pale spotting; including a notable pink spot on the dorsal surface of the head in adults. A toothlike cusp is located on each side of the gray upper jaw; the lower jaw is hooked anteriorly. The paddle-like clawless limbs are black with white margins and pale spotting. Hatchlings are predominantly black with white flipper margins and keels on the carapace.

Jellyfish are the main staple of its diet, but it is also known to feed on sea urchins, squid, crustaceans, tunicates, fish, blue-green algae, and floating seaweed. For more information on Leatherback sea turtles go here. Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) FAMILY: Cheloniidae STATUS: Threatened throughout its range (Federal Register, July 28, 1978). DESCRIPTION: The loggerhead is characterized by a large head with blunt jaws. The carapace and flippers are a reddish-brown color; the plastron is yellow. The carapace has five pairs of costal scutes with the first touching the nuchal scute. There are three large inframarginal scutes on each of the bridges between the plastron and carapace. Adults grow to an average weight of about 200 pounds. The species feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and other marine animals. For more information on Loggerhead sea turtles go here.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) FAMILY: Cheloniidae STATUS: Breeding colony populations on the Pacific Coast of Mexico are listed as Endangered; all others are listed as Threatened (Federal Register, July 28, 1978). DESCRIPTION: The olive ridley was named for the olive color of its heart-shaped shell and is one of the smallest of the sea turtles, with adults reaching 2 to 2½ feet in length and weighing 80 to 110 pounds. The species may be identified by the uniquely high and variable numbers of vertebral and costal scutes. Although some individuals have only five pairs of costals, in nearly all cases some division of costal scutes occurs, so that as many as six to nine pairs may be present. In addition, the vertebral scutes also show frequent division, as do the scales on the dorsal surface of the head. The prefrontal scales, however, typically number two pairs. Existing reports suggest that the olive ridley’s diet includes crabs, shrimp, rock lobsters, jellyfish, and tunicates. In some parts of the world, algae has been reported as its principal food.

:: WILD-LAB Wetlands Research Library :: (Chelydra serpentina) Presently found: Throughout North and Central America Habitat:ï¿½ Slow-moving bodies of fresh water with a muddy bottom and vegetation, such as lakes, ponds, marshes, and streams Size: Carapace (upper shell) length of 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16inches); weight of 11-20 Kg (11 ï¿½ 44 lbs) Life span: up to 60 yearsï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ Description: Snapping turtles are dark olive-brown to black in color. They have a large head and long, serrated-looking tail. They also have a rough, hard beak and powerful jaw muscles to snap at their prey and rip or tear meat. Diet: They are broadly omnivorous, eating aquatic invertebrates, fish, amphibians, mammals and birds, bird eggs, and carrion. Reproduction: Mating takes place in early summer in the water.

Females deposit 20-60 eggs in dug-out holes in sandy soil, often traveling up to 10 miles to do so.ï¿½ The eggsï¿½ hatch after an incubation of 2 to 3 months. There is no maternal care of the eggs or hatchlings.ï¿½ Status: Common throughout their range Other fun Info: ï¿½ ï¿½Due to the size of the plastron (bottom shell), common snapping turtles are not able to pull their head or legs into the shell. In order to protect themselves from potential predators, snapping turtles employ aggressive behavioral tactics, opening their jaws and raising their bodies. ï¿½ As with many turtle species, the temperature of the nest influences the gender of the hatchlings. ï¿½ ï¿½Collected for turtle soup. ï¿½ Omnivorous; eat aquatic invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, carrion, and vegetation.

ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Gulf Coast Box Turtle Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Presently found: Naturally occur in the Mississippi valley from northern Illinois and Indiana to the northern Gulf of Mexico, west to Texas and east to western Alabama. They have been introduced and established into parts of Florida. Habitat: Freshwater and brackish slow-moving bodies of water with muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation. The Red-eared slider is almost exclusively aquatic, venturing out to lay eggs or move to another pond. They can usually be seen basking on logs, even piled on top of one another. Size:ï¿½ Approximately 100 mm - 200 mm (4 inches - 8 inches) in shell length. Adult females are generally larger than adult males. ï¿½ Life span: As long as 50-75 years Description: The smooth curved carapace (upper shell) is olive to black with yellow markings; often the shell turns very dark or black by adulthood. They are named for the broad red stripe located behind each eye.

Diet: While adults are primarily herbivorous (aquatic plant feeders), juveniles are mainly carnivorous, preying on small crustaceans, insects and fish. Both young and adult sliders are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever is most readily available.ï¿½ Reproduction: The breeding season is between March and July. Clutches of approximately 5-15 eggs are laid in early fall and hatch about 70 days later. Mortality rate of hatchlings is high. Status: Red-eared sliders are common throughout their range. Other fun Info: ï¿½ Due to national and international pet trade and demand for meat, Red-eared sliders are one of the most heavily collected species in Louisiana. Regulations have recently made their sale illegal. ï¿½ Very common. The young are green with red stripes by their ears. As adults, they become darker, and can be hard to identify. ï¿½ Young are great gobblers of mosquito larvae (wigglers); mosquito control will place them for this purpose. ï¿½ Females are usually larger than males. Males have long claws used to stroke females during courtship.

Smooth Softshell Turtle Presently found: Along the Mississippi River System from Iowa to Florida Habitat: Sandy rivers and streams; uncommon in lakes Size: larger turtle species, reaching maximum carapace (upper shell) length of 60 cm (2 feet)ï¿½ Life span:?? Description: Very flat, pancake-like turtles with thick leathery skin covering the shell. Softshell turtles have long necks and tubular-shaped noses, allowing them to reach the waterï¿½s surface to breathe while the body remains submerged in the sand or mud at the waterï¿½s bottom.ï¿½ Adults are grey or brown with splotches, and the feet are extensively webbed. Diet:ï¿½ invertebrates such as worms, snails, and crustaceans, small vertebrates - birds, mammals, fish, and amphibians; occasionally some plant material Reproduction:ï¿½ Mating takes place in early summer, and eggs are laid in late summer to early fall.

Females deposit 10-30 eggs in dug-out holes in sandbars, and the eggs hatch after an incubation of 50-70 days.ï¿½ Many eggs and hatchlings are taken by carnivorous predators such as raccoons, bullfrogs, and wading birds. Status: ï¿½Not federally listed; though listed as species of ï¿½special concernï¿½ in some states Other fun Info: ï¿½ Respiration in the softshell turtle can occur though the skin lining the throat and neck. This allows them to remain underwater for up to five hours at a time. ï¿½ Very fast on land and in the water. Shell soft and leathery, will bend at sides. ï¿½ Often lie buried in mud under shallow water with neck extended and nostrils in air. ï¿½ Tend to be "snappy". Males have longer and stouter tails than females.

ï¿½ "animated pancakes" 3 species found here - Gulf Coast Spiny, Smooth Softshell, and Eastern Spiny Softshell Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) Presently found: Mississippi Valley from Illinois to Florida and westward to Texas Habitat:ï¿½ Slow-moving bodies of water with muddy bottoms and abundant vegetations, such as ponds, streams, lakes, and marshes. They can also be found in canals and ditches in more suburban areas. Size: 8 - 16 cm top shell length (3 inches ï¿½ 6 inches) Life span:ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Description: The carapace (top shell) is olive to brown and smooth and flattened in shape. The plastron (bottom shell) is yellow to brown with two hinges that can close separately. The lower jaw and neck are barbed yellow to white spotted.ï¿½ Diet: Small insects, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and amphibians Reproduction Mating occurs in early summer. Approximately 2-10 eggs are deposited into nests and are incubated for 30-40 days.

Status: Not listed federally, though regional populations may be declining due to habitat destruction and overcollecting for the pet trade. Other fun Info: ï¿½ A yellow mud turtle can defend itself by producing a foul odor from its musk glands located on each side of the body. carapace facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about carapace The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright The Columbia University Press carapace (kâr´əpās), shield, or shell covering, found over all or part of the anterior dorsal portion of an animal. In lobsters, shrimps, crayfish, and crabs, the carapace is the part of the exoskeleton that covers the head and thorax and protects the dorsal and lateral surfaces. In many crustaceans, the term carapace is also used to describe the hard, protective covering of the cephalothorax, as that of the horseshoe crab. The carapace of a turtle's shell is composed of expanded ribs and vertebrae overlain by dermal plates and horny scales. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes © Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes 2007, originally published by Oxford University Press 2007.

carapace •abase, ace, apace, backspace, base, bass, brace, case, chase, dace, efface, embrace, encase, enchase, enlace, face, grace, interlace, interspace, in-your-face, lace, mace, misplace, outface, outpace, pace, place, plaice, race, space, Thrace , trace, upper case •airbase • freebase • wheelbase •database • steeplechase • paperchase •paleface • typeface • whiteface •boldface • coalface • interface •staircase • briefcase • slipcase •packing case • doorcase • showcase •notecase • pillowcase • suitcase •bookcase • nutcase • marketplace •anyplace • everyplace • showplace •shoelace • bootlace • someplace •Lovelace • fireplace • commonplace •workplace • birthplace • tenace •airspace • aerospace • hyperspace •carapace • workspace • ratrace •millrace • Fuentes • rosace Cite this article

Question: What part of a crustacean or turtle is the carapace ?
Answer: SHELL