Biology of Turtles From Structures to Strategies of Life

As the first comprehensive review of the Testudinata, Biology of Turtles presents the morphology, physiology, and behavior of both freshwater and marine turtles. It explores life histories along with ecological strategies of adaptation, examines current debates in evolution concerning the relationship between organism features and life history, and considers what turtle structures can and cannot reveal about growth, ecology, and behavior. With 200 illustrations, including 8 full color pages, this text is an ideal reference for herpetologists, as well as evolutionary and conservation biologists.

Featuring in-depth contributions from an international team of experts, the Biology of Turtles provides the first comprehensive review of the Testudinata. The book starts with the premise that the structure of turtles is particularly interesting and best understood within the context of their development, novelty, functional diversity, and evolution. It provides a robust discussion of the development and diversity of the shell. The book also explores the turtle body plan, its physiological and ecological consequences, evolutionary novelties, and their importance. The 200 illustrations found throughout the text enhance the chapters combine with color illustrations of the development of the shell, aspects of bone structural diversity, growth, and skeletochronology, to make this book an unparalleled resource. The volume concludes with a thoughtful discussion of the more than century long debate on the origins of turtles and the reasons why our understanding of the phylogenic origins and evolution of turtles remains tentative. Currently available books on this subject are woefully out of date and no overall review of Testudinata has been undertaken…until now. Each chapter represents a milestone in synthesizing a wide range of available information on specific subjects. The book’s challenge: look both inside and outside the shell to build a clearer understanding of the diversity and evolution of turtles.

How the Turtle Gets Its Shell, S.F. Gilbert, J.A. Cebra-Thomas, and A.C. Burke Comparative Ontogenetic and Phylogenetic Aspects of Chelonian Chondro-Osseous Growth and Skeletochronology, M.L. Snover and A.G.J. Rhodin Evolution and Structure of the Turtle Shell, P.C H. Pritchard Long Bone Allometry in Tortoises and Turtles, G.A. Llorente, X. Ruiz, A. Casinos, I. Barandalla, and C. Viladiu Evolution of Locomotion in Aquatic Turtles, S. Renous, F. de Lapparent de Broin, M. Depecker, J. Davenport, and V. Bels Hindlimb Function in Turtle Locomotion: Limb Movements and Muscular Activation Across Taxa, Environment, and Ontogeny, R.W. Blob, A.R.V. Rivera, and M.W. Westneat Cervical Anatomy and Function in Turtles, A. Herrel, J. Van Damme, and P. Aerts Functional Evolution of Feeding Behavior in Turtles, V. Bels, S. Baussart, J. Davenport, M. Shorten, R.M. O’Riordan, S. Renous, and J.L. Davenport The Cardiopulmonary Systems of Turtles: Implications to Behavior and Function, J. Wyneken Reproductive Structures and Strategies of Turtles, J.D. Miller and S.A. Dinkelacker Mixed and Uniform Brood Sex Ratio Strategy in Turtles: The Facts, the Theory, and their Consequences, V. Hulin, M. Girondot, M.H. Godfrey, and J.-M. Guillon The Physiology and Anatomy of Anoxia Tolerance in the Freshwater Turtle Brain, S.L. Milton The Relationships of Turtles within Amniotes, O. Rieppel Index