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Five Fingers in a Flipper

A sea turtle’s front flipper looks like a smooth paddle, but inside it has the same arm bones as a land reptile. The five finger bones are stretched long and held together by skin.

In the picture

  1. Badge 1 marks the upper arm bone in the tortoise’s short front leg.
  2. Badge 2 marks the five short finger bones in the tortoise’s front leg.
  3. Badge 3 marks the long, stretched finger bones inside the sea turtle’s flipper.
  4. Badge 4 marks the smooth skin outline around the sea turtle’s flipper.

Examples

  • A whale’s flipper contains finger bones like a human hand.
  • A bat’s wing is supported by very long finger bones.

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Biology, Age 13