Bum-Breathing Turtle
The Fitzroy River Turtle (Rheodytes leukops) is a unique turtle found only in the Fitzroy River in eastern Queensland. The R. leukops is able to breathe normally above water but can remain underwater for anywhere up to twenty one days during winter and four days during spring. It is able to remain submerged for such phenomenal amounts of time due to an extremely unusual respiratory function. The R. leukops can survive on oxygen extracted from water taken into its cloaca, a cavity in the pelvic region into which the alimentary canal and the genital and urinary ducts open. Unfortunately the species is under threat as a plan has been proposed, encouraging the damming its habitat, the Fitzroy River.Identification of the genus Rheodytes The R. leukops comes from the family Chelidae and is monotypic; meaning that it is part of either a genus or species that consists of only one type of animal or plant. It is the only member of the genus Rheodytes. It is distinguishable by its relatively short neck in comparison to the rest of its body as well as many marking found on the chelid (BARBOUR, 1984). When the head and neck of the turtle are fully extended, they are still much shorter than the length of the shell, which aver
Kaplan, M. (1999). Melissa Kaplan?s Herp Care: Chelonians. [Online]. Available: http:/www.sonic.net/~melissk/mailchelonian.htm [2001, March 15].
Some common words found in the essay are:
River Identification, Fitzroy River, University Queensland, Online Available, Crossing CAMERON, September October, Dr Franklin, Ribbon Weed, online available, 2001 march, Scientist Magazine, 2001 march 15, march 15, Turtle Rheodytes, fitzroy river, respiratory function, cloacal breathing, reptiles amphibians, damming habitat, barbour 1984, cloacal bursae, 2001 online available, cloacal bursae leukops, form cloacal breathing, encyclopedia reptiles amphibians,
Approximate Word count = 1251
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
