5.11 Testudo hermanni (a terrestrial tortoise)

This is the skull, beak, skeleton and shell of a terrestrial tortoise. (Note: this specimen has the plastron [the ventralpice of chest armour] removed and mounted on the back). Look at the structure of the skill and beak – note the absence of teeth and the ridged edge of the beak. Examine the emarginations at the back margin of the skull – these embayments held large jaw closing muscles.

Note the way the pectoral and pelvic girdles are held within the shell, effectively within the rib cage.

Compare the limbs of this tortoise with those of the aquatic forms. The shell here is more domed that in aquatic forms.

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