Turtles (Chelonia)
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of around 70 specimens of Chelonia – turtles, tortoises and terrapins. These date from 1877 to 2007 and come from North and South America, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Europe, including Scotland. This collection comprises mounted specimens, dried shells (carapaces and plastrons), skulls and skeletons, and specimens in spirit. There is also a cast of a leathery turtle, and a single egg, which was laid by ‘Bobbie the tortoise’ in 1935. All species of marine turtles that occur in British waters are represented in the collection, with the exception of Kemp’s Ridley Turtle. There are several specimens of freshwater turtles and tortoises, representing just a few species from around the world. The Chelonia include all freshwater and marine tortoises, terrapins and turtles. They are characterized by soft bodies protected by a bony or cartilaginous ‘shell’ developed from their ribs, consisting of a carapace above and a plastron below.
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