Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Ernst, C. H. (1982). Why are more tropical emydid turtles black? Biotropica, 14(1), 68.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (30 Jun 2012 22:00:52 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Ernst1982b View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Clemmys, Clemmys guttata, Emydidae, Emydoidea, Emydoidea blandingii, Emys, Emys orbicularis, Habitat = habitat, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Systematik = taxonomy Creators: Ernst Collection: Biotropica |
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| Abstract |
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Examination of the largest and most wide-ranging turtle family, the Emydidae, shows that in the tropics many more species are black than those of temperate climates. In the northern temperature zone, only Clemmys guttata, Emydoiaea blandingii , and Emys orbicularis are truly black, and some male Pseudemys become more melanistic with age, whereas in the American and oriental tropics several speices of Rhinoclemmys, Pseudemys, Mauremys, Cuora, Melanochelys, Annamemys Chinemys, Geoclemys, Heosemys , and Siebenrockiella are black as adults. These emydids are not bottom dwellers and spend much of their time in full sunlight. The black coloration of the carapace and skin of these turtles is probably an adaptation for thermoregulation rather than concealment.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |