The cranial arteries of turtles and their evolutionary significance

Abstract

In this paper the cranial arteries, cranial arterial foramina, and bony canals of the Cheloniidae, Chelydridae, Pelomedusidae, and Chelidae are described in detail. From skull studies and published material, the general cranial arterial patterns of all the turtle families can be inferred. Sea turtles, the Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae, possess both a large stapedial artery and a large artery supplying the orbit, which is possibly similar to the primitive cranial arterial pattern for turtles. From a primitive pattern in which stapedial and palatine arteries supply the orbit, the Chelydridae and Testudinidae retained a large stapedial artery and reduced the palatine artery, while the Kinosternidae and Dermatemydidae developed a large palatine artery and reduced the stapedial artery. The Trionychidae and probably the Carettochelyidae evolved a complex arterial pattern in which the stapedial artery was reduced somewhat and the pseudopalatine artery was substituted for the palatine artery. Pleurodires in general retained a large stapedial artery and reduced or eliminated the palatine artery. The Podocneminae, including the Madagascar species, developed a highly modified carotid canal, which is found in no other turtle group. The facts which have been presented should aid in fossil skull studies and in understanding the evolutionary background of recent turtles.