查看文章

Marine turtles depart functionally and moiphologically from other chelonian lin eages. Their form of locomotion and of their locomotor adaptations, perhaps more than any other features, make sea turtles unique from other turtles. Very large adult size, hypertrophied phalanges, distinctive locomotor patterns, relatively high activity levels, and their nearly totally aquatic life-style are all deviations from the historical emphasis of this morphologically conservative vertebrate group. Consequently, sea turtles have attracted the attention of many authors who described, listed, or inves tigated the adaptations that sea turtles possess for their marine life-style. In general, the locomotion of turtles has unique features when compared with that of other vertebrates. Because of the rigid carapace, all propulsion must come from the limbs. While all terrestrial turtles and freshwater turtles (with the exception of Carettochelys) utilize …