Aquatic life (1918-1919) (19751997231)

Title: Aquatic life
Identifier: aquaticlife419181919baus (find matches)
Year: 1918-1919 (1910s)
Authors: Bausman, Joseph E
Subjects: Aquariums; Fish culture
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. E. Bausman
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library



Text Appearing Before Image:
Observations on the Chelonians of North America. III. DR. R. W. 5HUFELDT, C. M. Z. 5. ~* S"
Text Appearing After Image:
Aromochelys odoratus Common Musk Turtle No group of turtles in our chelonian fauna are more thoroughly aquatic in their habits than are those composing the family Cinosternidae. Most of the spe- cies are North American in the matter of habitat, and herpelotologists generally have relegated the eight or nine known species to the two genera Aromochelys and Cinostemum. They are all small types, and upon comparison have pretty much the same general appearance. Their best differentiating characters are to be seen in the plastron or ventral part of the shell. The inner median margins of the carapace are joined by a transverse rigid bridge, to which is hinged in front and behind the plastronic lobes, which are ligamentously hinged, and so movable. They close up tightly before and behind at the will of the animal, and much in the same way as it is accomplished in our well-known terrestrial box tortoises. In- deed, so perfect is this closing in Cino- stemum, that in some localities these forms are known as box turtles. Superficially, the carapace is extremely