This section provides an overview of terms used on this page and in turtle care in general that may not be self-explanators. The terms are listed alphabetically.

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE – Surrounding temperature; room air temperature

ASPIRATE – Inhaling fluids into the lungs

AQUATIC – Lives in, or mostly in, water

BASKING LIGHT – A light or overhead heating element that produces an area of higher heat in an enclosure; required by the reptile for digestion

BEAK – Hard or bony mouthparts on chelonians

BRUMMATION – Torpor induced by prolonged periods of low temperatures

CARAPACE – Top part of shell in turtles and tortoisesCAUDALTowards the tail end of the body

CHELONIAN – Collective term referring to turtles and tortoises

CLOACA – Passage used for eliminating fecal, urinary and reproductive discharges

DEHYDRATION – Reduction of water in body tissues and blood; can be life-threatening

DIURNAL – Active during the day

DYSTOCIA – Abnormal or difficult labor or egg laying

ECTOPARASITE – Parasites living outside (or on) the body

ECTOTHERMIC – “Cold-blooded”-body temperature varies according to ambient external temperatures

ECTOTHERM – Having to regulate internal body temperature by seeking out different external heat sources

ENDOPARASITE – Parasites living inside the body

ESTIVATION – Torpor brought on by extended periods of drought or heat

GLOTTIS – Opening at the back of the tongue leading into the trachea (wind pipe)

HERPETOLOGY – The study of reptiles and amphibians

HERPA – reptile or amphibian. “Herpers” refers to people who are interested in or who keep herps. Herpetoculture refers to the keeping and breeding of herps

HEPATIC – Relating to the liver

HIBERNATION – Torpor brought on by extended cold temperatures

HYPOVITAMINOSIS – A condition of vitamin deficiency

INGUINAL POCKETS – The area of concealed skin between the legs and shell of turtles

KEEL – The ridge of keratin found on the midline of the carapace of Terrapene carolina

MANDIBLE – Lower jaw

MAXILLA – Upper jaw

MEDIAL – Toward the midline (center) of the body

NECROTIC – Dead skin or tissue, often the result of burns or infection

NEPHROTOXIC – Chemically damaging to the kidneys

OMNIVORES – Eats live prey and plants

OSTEOMALACIA – Softening of the bones

OVIPAROUS – Reproduces by laying eggs

PATHOGEN – Disease-causing organism

PHOTOPERIOD – Day/night cycle of light/dark

PLASTRON – The bottom part of a turtle or tortoise shell

PROLAPSE – Expulsion of internal organ from the vent; can be harmful

RENAL – Relating to the kidneys

SCUTES – The individual segments of the turtle’s shell

SEMI-AQUATIC – Lives on land but spends some or much time in water

SUBCUTANEOUS – Just beneath the skin (as in SQ, subq, subcutaneous fluids)

TEMPERATURE GRADIENT – A range of temperature needed to enable a reptile to regulate its internal (core) body temperature

TERRESTRIAL – Lives on land

THERMOREGULATE – In reptiles, their ability to change their body temperature by moving from warm to cool places

ULTRAVIOLET (UV) LIGHT – UV is present in sunlight and is necessary for maintaining adequate levels of active vitamin D in box turtles

URATES – The non-fecal part of the excreta

VENT – Exterior opening of the cloaca; anus

VENTRAL – Towards the belly

VERTEBRATE – Animals having backbones (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish)