Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 4 (16158070626)

Descrission:

Description: Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) - green sea turtle at a small patch reef. Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Reptilia, Anapsida, Testudines, Cheloniidae Locality: small patch reef west of North Point Peninsula, eastern Graham's Harbour, northeastern San Salvador Island, eastern Bahamas The turtles & tortoises (chelonians) are an ancient group of reptiles that have a Triassic to Holocene stratigraphic record. Turtles are most easily recognized by their shell - some forms can retract the head & limbs into the shell when threatened, while other species cannot. Their overall body plan has changed very little since the Triassic - a great example of conservative evolution. Chelonians occur in terrestrial, freshwater, brackish-water, and marine settings. Date: 18 June 2012, 10:21. Source: Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 4. Author: James St. John.