|
Apalone
''Apalone'' is a genus of turtles in the family Trionychidae. The three species of ''Apalone'' are native to freshwater habitats in North America; they are the only living softshell turtles from the Americas (other American softshell turtles are only known from fossil remains). Geographic range Most ''Apalone'' species are restricted to the United States, though the range of the spiny softshell, ''A. spinifera'', extends into southern Canada and northern Mexico. Fossil evidence suggests that ''Apalone'' may have reached as far south as Costa Rica during the Pliocene. Taxonomy ''Apalone'' is a fairly new classification, resurrected by Meylan in 1987, assigned to North American species of the genus '' Trionyx''. They are still listed as ''Trionyx'' in some texts. (''Trionyx'' now refers specifically to certain softshell species found mainly in Africa.) Molecular phylogenetic studies generally suggest that ''Apalone'' is most closely related to the highly endangered Asian genus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spiny Softshell Turtle
The spiny softshell turtle (''Apalone spinifera'') is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. Both the common name, spiny softshell, and the Specific name (zoology), specific name, ''spinifera'' (spine-bearing), refer to the spiny, cone-like projections on the leading edge of the carapace, which are not scutes (scales). Description The spiny softshell turtle's scientific name is very descriptive of the animal. ''Apalone'' comes from the Greek word ''apalos'', meaning soft or tender, and ''spinifera'' is of Latin origin; ''spina-'' referring to thorn or spine and ''-ifer'' meaning bearing. This species is a member of the family Trionychidae, and one of the most distinguishing features of members in this family is the presence of a leathery, moderately flexible carapace. This is caused by loss of keratinized scutes and some bony tissue loss. Spiny softshell turtles have webbed feet, each with three claws. Another distinguishing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apalone Mutica
The smooth softshell turtle (''Apalone mutica'') is a species of North American softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. This freshwater species is endemic to the United States, where it inhabits the Mississippi River system, along with other adjoining waterways that empty into the Gulf of Mexico. Geographic range ''A. mutica'' is native to the United States, where it is distributed throughout the central and south-central states. Its natural geographic range extends from western Pennsylvania in the east to New Mexico in the west, as far north as the Dakotas, and south to the westernmost Florida Panhandle, where it is eventually replaced by the Florida softshell turtle (''Apalone ferox''). Smooth softshell turtles are common within the Mississippi River system, from its delta in Louisiana up to North Dakota, as well as in the Colorado River (in Texas), the Brazos, Sabine, Pearl, Alabama and the Conecuh (Escambia) river systems. Two regional subspecies of ''Apalone muti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apalone Ferox
The Florida softshell turtle (''Apalone ferox'') is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is native to the Southeastern United States. Rafinesque, Constantine S. "12. Description of two new genera of Soft Shell Turtles of North America." Atlantic Journal, and Friend of Knowledge. In Eight Numbers. Containing About 160 Original Articles and Tracts on Natural and Historical Sciences, the Description of About 150 New Plants, and 100 New Animals or Fossils. Many Vocabularies of Languages, Historical and Geological Facts, &c.(1832-1833) 1.2 (1832): 64. The maximum recorded lifespan of a Florida softshell turtle is 26 years. Geographic range The Florida softshell turtle is found primarily in the state of Florida, but it also ranges to southern sections of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.''Apal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trionychidae
Trionychidae is a family of turtles, commonly known as softshell turtles or simply softshells. The family was described by Leopold Fitzinger in 1826. Softshells include some of the world's largest freshwater turtles, though many can adapt to living in highly brackish waters. Members of this family occur in Africa, Asia, and North America, with extinct species known from Australia. Most species have traditionally been included in the genus '' Trionyx'', but the vast majority have since been moved to other genera. Among these are the North American '' Apalone'' softshells that were placed in ''Trionyx'' until 1987. Characteristics Turtles of the family Trionychidae are called "softshell" because their carapaces lack horny scutes (scales), though the spiny softshell, '' Apalone spinifera'', does have some scale-like projections, to which its common name refers. The carapace is leathery and pliable, particularly at the sides. The central part of the carapace has a layer of solid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rafetus
''Rafetus'' is a genus of highly endangered softshell turtles in the family Trionychidae. It is a genus of large turtles which are found in freshwater habitats in Eurasia. Taxonomy Evolution Phylogenetic evidence largely suggests that ''Rafetus'' is most closely related to the widespread North American genus ''Apalone''. The two genera appear to have diverged during the Late Eocene, likely when the ancestors of ''Apalone'' dispersed into North America via Beringia. Species According to most taxonomists, the genus ''Rafetus'' contains the following two extant species. *''Rafetus euphraticus'' – Euphrates softshell turtle; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Khūzestān Province of Iran. IUCN: Endangered. *''Rafetus swinhoei'' – Yangtze giant softshell turtle; Only three known living individuals, one in Suzhou Zoo (China) and two in two lakes in northern Vietnam, Dong Mo lake and Xuan Khanh lake. IUCN: Critically endangered. A possible third sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leopold Fitzinger
Leopold Joseph Franz Johann Fitzinger (13 April 1802 – 20 September 1884) was an Austrian zoologist. Fitzinger was born in Vienna and studied botany at the University of Vienna under Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin. He worked at the Vienna Naturhistorisches Museum between 1817, when he joined as a volunteer assistant, and 1821, when he left to become secretary to the provincial legislature of Lower Austria; after a hiatus, he was appointed assistant curator in 1844 and remained at the Naturhistorisches Museum until 1861. Later, he became director of the zoos of Munich and Budapest. In 1826, he published ''Neue Classification der Reptilien'', based partly on the work of his friends Friedrich Wilhelm Hemprich and Heinrich Boie. In 1843, he published ''Systema Reptilium'', covering geckos, chameleons and iguanas. Fitzinger is commemorated in the scientific names of five reptiles: ''Algyroides fitzingeri'', ''Leptotyphlops fitzingeri'', ''Liolaemus fitzingerii'', ''Micrurus tener, Micr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime boundary, maritime border with Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around five million in a land area of nearly . An estimated people live in the capital and largest city, San José, Costa Rica, San José, with around two million people in the surrounding metropolitan area. The sovereign state is a Presidential system, presidential republic. It has a long-standing and stable Constitution of Costa Rica, constitutional democracy and a highly educated workforce. The country spends roughly 6.9% of its budget (2016) on education, compared to a global average of 4.4%. Its economy, once heavily dependent on agriculture, has diversified to include sectors such as finance, corporate services for foreign companies, pharmaceut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alabama
Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 30th largest by area, and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 24th-most populous of the List of states and territories of the United States, 50 U.S. states. Alabama is nicknamed the ''Northern flicker, Yellowhammer State'', after the List of U.S. state birds, state bird. Alabama is also known as the "Heart of Dixie" and the "Cotton State". The state has diverse geography, with the north dominated by the mountainous Tennessee Valley and the south by Mobile Bay, a historically significant port. Alabama's capital is Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery, and its largest city by population and area is Huntsville, Ala ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Straits of Florida to the south, and The Bahamas to the southeast. About two-thirds of Florida occupies a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It has the List of U.S. states by coastline, longest coastline in the contiguous United States, spanning approximately , not including its many barrier islands. It is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of over 23 million, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by population, third-most populous state in the United States and ranks List of states and territories of the United States by population density, seventh in population density as of 2020. Florida spans , ranking List of U.S. states ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Georgia (U
Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the female given name * Georgia (musician) (born 1990), English singer, songwriter, and drummer Georgia Barnes Places Historical polities * Kingdom of Georgia, a medieval kingdom * Kingdom of Eastern Georgia, a late medieval kingdom * Kingdom of Western Georgia, a late medieval kingdom * Georgia Governorate, a subdivision of the Russian Empire * Georgia within the Russian Empire * Democratic Republic of Georgia, a country established after the collapse of the Russian Empire and later conquered by Soviet Russia. * Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, a republic within the Soviet Union * Republic of Georgia (1990–1992), Republic of Georgia, a republic in the Soviet Union which, after the collapse of the U ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
South Carolina
South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the west and south across the Savannah River. Along with North Carolina, it makes up the Carolinas region of the East Coast of the United States, East Coast. South Carolina is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 11th-smallest and List of U.S. states and territories by population, 23rd-most populous U.S. state with a recorded population of 5,118,425 according to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. In , its GDP was $213.45 billion. South Carolina is composed of List of counties in South Carolina, 46 counties. The capital is Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia with a population of 136,632 in 2020; while its List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city is Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
