List of Testudines families
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Testudines are an order of reptile commonly known as turtles, tortoises and terrapins. The testudines are some of the most ancient reptiles alive, with only the tuataras considered more primitive. There are approximately 300 extant species of testudines, split into two suborders: the Cryptodirans and the Pleurodirans. The distinction between these two suborders is based on the mode in which they cover their head and neck. The Pleurodirans, also called the side-necked turtles, have long necks, and fold them sideways to align them with the shell. The Cryptodirans pull their neck straight back to conceal their head within the shell. A third order the Paracryptodirans are extinct.
| Cryptodira - 11 families, 74 genera, over 200 species | ||||
| Family | Genera | Common Names | Example Species | Example Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carettochelyidae Boulenger, 1887 |
1 | Australiasian Pig-nose Turtle | Australasian Pig-Nose Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) |  |
| Cheloniidae Oppel, 1811 |
5 | Sea turtles | Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) |  |
| Chelydridae Gray, 1831 |
2 | Snapping turtles | Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) |  |
| Dermatemydidae Gray, 1870 |
1 | Mesoamerican River Turtle | Mesoamerican River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) | - |
| Dermochelyidae Fitzinger, 1843 |
1 | Leatherback Sea Turtle | Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) |  |
| Emydidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
10 | Box or water turtles | Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) |  |
| Geoemydidae Theobald, 1868 |
24 | Asian river, leaf, roofed or Asian box turtles | Malayan Box Turtles (Cuora amboinensis) |  |
| Kinosternidae Agassiz, 1857 |
4 | Mud or musk turtles | Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) |  |
| Platysternidae Gray, 1869 |
1 | Big-headed turtles | Big-headed Turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) | - |
| Testudinidae Batsch, 1788 |
11 | Tortoises | Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) |  |
| Trionychidae Fitzinger, 1826 |
14 | Softshell turtles | Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) |  |
| Pleurodira - 3 families, 16 genera, over 60 species | ||||
| Family | Genera | Common Names | Example Species | Example Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelidae Gray, 1831 |
11 | Austro-American Sideneck Turtles | Common Snakeneck Turtle (Chelodina longicollis) |  |
| Pelomedusidae Cope, 1868 |
2 | Afro-American Sideneck Turtles | African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) | - |
| Podocnemididae Gray, 1869 |
3 | Madagascan big-headed and American sideneck river turtles | Madagascan Big-headed Turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) |  |
| Paracryptodira - extinct |
[edit] References
- John B. Iverson, A. Jon Kimerling, A. Ross Kiester. EMYSystems. Terra Cognita Laboratory, Geosciences Department of Oregon State University. Retrieved on June 15, 2006.
- David T. Kirkpatrick (November/December 1995). Platysternon megacephalum 40 - 47.. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine. Retrieved on July 27, 2006.
- Cogger, H.G.; R.G. Zweifel, and D. Kirschner (2004). Encyclopedia of Reptiles & Amphibians Second Edition. Fog City Press. ISBN 1-877019-69-0.
