University of the People
Author: Murray Ball - Thursday, December, 22nd, 2016
Featured Characteristics of the Common Snapping Turtles Phylum
In your assigned readings, you were introduced to the major animal phyla. Choose an animal which represents a particular phylum. Briefly describe its features characteristic of its phylum including morphology, embryology, and physiology. Identify adaptations of your animal compared with other animals. If you chose a more primitive animal, identify adaptations compared with more primitive organisms outside of the animal kingdom.
Characteristic of the Common Snapping Turtle’s Phylum
The common snapping turtles Latin nomenclature is the Chelydra serpentina. …show more content…
Pharyngeal slits are gill filtering slits or tunicates helping the organism in some developmental form of its existence. Of this type of Aquatic Amphibian the Anus does take shape before the mouth. Also, this species of organism has an Endostyle found in the Pharynx for eating and aiding in digesting its food. Another characteristic of the phylum. Lastly, for some period or for its whole life the animals that belong to this phylum usually keep their embryonic tail, which the Common Snapping Turtle does all of its life. The next level of Sub-Phylum is that this organism belongs to the …show more content…
In the turtles Latin name we have ‘Serpentina’, which addresses the turtle having a long neck which can stand guard if alarmed with a snake like features of its head. This organism also has a very strong bite with its hooked like beak probably adapted to capture prey with its fast reflexes caught unawares, in fact such a sever strength to its bite have ability to remove human fingers if being handled. Hence, the characteristic in their name ‘Snapping Turtle’, which snaps in rightful defense against anything near its head. The Common Snapping Turtle is very solidly built through high muscular tone and buildup. This animal can take to stealth in the sediment of the fresh water, with its shell on its back for protection and camouflage. So solid and strong is the Common Snapping Turtle it is the champion in size and build of all the freshwater turtles. Because of the importance to reproduce and propagate its own kind, and the high mortality rate of its embryos not reaching adulthood. Therefore, keeping the population at good numbers the male is usually bigger than the female Snapping Turtle. The male also having a late maturing of its reproductive abilities keeping those the best vitality to carry on the next generation and so having a better success