Family CHELONIIDAE
Introduction
A family containing all but one of the large sea turtles. The six living species in four genera are largely confined to the tropics, but regularly range into warm temperate and occasionally cold temperate waters. Successful breeding occurs only in the tropics. Gravid females emerge on to beaches to lay their eggs in egg cavities which they first excavate, then later fill in and obscure. Minor deviations from an optimum incubation temperature recently have been shown to result in massively skewed sex ratios of the hatchlings. Five species, representing all genera, occur in Australian waters; only one is endemic.
Diagnosis
Characterised in Australia by: cryptodirous withdrawal of the head into the shell; strong, paddle-shaped limbs with one or more claws on the leading edge; nostrils level with surface of snout; shell consisting of a fused bony shell covered by large juxtaposed or imbricate dermal scutes and sometimes a soft, thin skin.
General References
Cogger, H.G. 1979. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney : A.H. & A.W. Reed 608 pp.
Fritz, U. & Havas, P. 2007. Checklist of Chelonians of the World. Vertebrate Zoology 57(2): 149-368 (checklist of world chelonians)
Pritchard, P.C.H. 1979. Encyclopedia of Turtles. Neptune, N.J. : T.F.H. Publications 895 pp.
Wermuth, H. & Mertens, R. 1977. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien; Testudines, Crocodylia, Rhynchocephalia. Das Tierreich 100: i-xxvii, 1-174
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08-Mar-2011 | 08-Mar-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |