chelonian
nounEtymology Chelonia + -an
1
A reptile of the order Chelonia (Testudines).
chelonian
adjUK /kɪˈləʊ.ni.ən/ · US /kɪˈloʊ.ni.ən/
Etymology Chelonia + -an
1
Of, relating to, or belonging to the order Chelonia (Testudines), which includes the turtles and tortoises.
- Chelonian eggs may be leathery or parchment-shelled that indent easily when laid and expand due to water uptake during incubation; harder-shelled but expansible eggs which behave much like parchment eggs during incubation; and brittle-shelled eggs which do not indent when laid and usually take up little or no external water during incubation (Ewert, 1979, 1985; Kuchling, 1999).2004, Don Moll, The Ecology, Exploitation and Conservation of River Turtles, page 46: