Terrapene skeleton | ||
Created By:
| About the ImageThis image demonstrates how the limbs, neck and head of the North American box turtle (Terrapene carolina) fit inside the shell. The turtle can breathe while concealed within the shell, but must exhale a large quantity of air from the lungs in order to attain this position. This preparation was made by first having Dermestes beetles consume the flesh of the dead animal, then drying and photographing the skeleton in the open position, then wetting, repositioning and photographing the skeleton in the closed position. To see a video clip of a box turtle breathing during locomotion go to http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/brainerd/loco.php. | |
|
Steven D. Brewer -- sbrewer@bio.umass.edu |