turtles

Art & Architecture Thesaurus

turtles

Members of the order of armored marine or terrestrial reptiles usually having a shell comprising a top (carapace) and a bottom (plastron) that arise from the ribs and often join one another along each side of the body, creating a rigid skeletal box, a skull without a pineal opening, and toothless jaws. Earliest examples are very ancient, dating from the Upper Triassic 215 million years ago. There are around 300 living species of turtles, terrapins, and tortoises. Some species live in and near water, although they cannot breathe or lay eggs in water.

Testudines

turtle

Chelonia

chelonians

tortoises