Turtle Terminology

• Chelonian: Designates a member of the reptilian order Chelonia, made up of turtles and tortoises.

• Tortoise: Designates terrestrial turtles.

• Terrapin: Designates aquatic turtles.

• Beak: the horny the upper and lower jaws of a turtle.

• Cloaca: Cavity which serves as intestinal, urinary, and genital tract in Reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish.

• Carapace: The upper portion of a turtle's shell.

• Scute: Horny, scale like structures on the turtle's shell. The scutes are made of keratin, like fingernails, and are sensitive to the touch.

• Gular scutes: A frontal projection on the turtle's plastron. 

• Anal scutes: A pair of scutes located at the rear end of the plastron, protecting the cloaca.

• Annuli: Rings that form on the scutes, which can be counted to determine a turtle's age.

• Plastron: The underside of a turtle's shell.

• Bridge: The section of the turtle's shell where the carapace and plastron are connected.

• Seam: lines in between the scutes

• Keel: Ridge on the turtle's carapace which goes from the front to the rear.

• Ovipositor: A soft tube that extends from the cloaca to facilitate egg-laying.

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Last modified: December 19, 2004