Ornate Box Turtle 36-VI
SAUROPSIDA
Testudines
  
 
Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata) hiding in its shell.



Chapter Outline
  1. Description of Sauropsida
  2. Classification of Sauropsida
  3. Sphenodontia
  4. Squamata
  5. Serpentes
  6. Testudines
  7. Crocodylia
  8. Paleo Sauropsida

Tree
NCBI Tree | Paleo Tree



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The last three pages have explored the class Lepidosauria within Sauropsida. Now we back out of that class and start to look at Archelosauria. Archelosauria is split between the subclass Testudinata and Archosauria. Archosauria includes the crocodiles, dinosaurs and birds, which will be explored in later pages and chapters. This page focuses on Testudinata, which contains the the turtles in a single order, Testudines.
  • Sauropsida
    • Lepidosauria
      • Sphenodontia - Tuataras (36-III)
      • Squamata - Lizards and Snakes (36-IV)
        • Dibamidae (bottom of this page)
        • Xenodermidae (bottom of this page)
        • Bifurcata
          • Gekkota - Geckos
          • Unidentata
            • Scinciformata - Skinks, Spinytail Lizards, Plated Lizards
            • Episquamata
              • Laterata
              • Toxicofera
                • Anguimorpha
                • Iguania
                • Serpentes (36-V)
        • >>> Paleo Tree - Mosasaurs, etc.
    • Archelosauria
      • Testudinata
        • Testudines - Turtles
      • Archosauria
        • Crocodylia - Crocodiles (36-VII)
        • Dinosauria - Dinosaurs
          • Ornithischia
          • Saurischia
            • (various dinosaurs)
            • Aves - Birds (Chapter 37)
The order Testudines contains all turtles. It is split into two suborders: Pleurodira, the "side-necked turtles", and Cryptodira, "hidden-necked turtles". Cryptodira is further split between the superfamily Trionychia, the soft-shelled turtles, and Durocryptodira, the hard-shelled turtles. Durocryptodira is divided into the superfamily Testudinoidea and Americhelydia. Americhelydia contains two superfamilies: Chelydroidea and Chelonioidea.

  • Testudines
    • Pleurodira - Side-Necked Turtles
    • Cryptodira
      • Trionychia - Soft-Shelled Turtles, Musk Turtles
      • Durocryptodira
        • Testudinoidea - Tortoises, Terrapins, Snapping Turtles
        • Americhelydia
          • Chelydroidea - Snapping, Mud and Musk Turtles
          • Chelonioidea - Sea Turtles
    • >>> Paleo Tree - Testudinata - Paracryptodira, Non-Testudines Turtles

Resources:
  • Turtle and Tortoise - San Diego Zoo
  • San Diego Zoo - Spurred Tortoise, Desert Tortoise, Galapagos Tortoise

PLEURODIRA - SIDE-NECKED TURTLES  

The suborder Pleurodira contains the Side-Necked Turtles. As of 2024, 3 species of Pleurodira have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 85 throughout the world. All US species have been introduced.

  • FAMILY CHELIDAE - SNAKE-NECKED TURTLES
    • Roti Island Snake-Necked Turtle (Chelodina mccordi) - 9 (ABQ Biopark), Tulsa Zoo
    • Northern Australian Snake-Necked Turtle (Chelodina rugosa)
    • Mata Mata Turtle (Chelus fimbriatus)
    • Australian Big-Headed Turtle (Emydura australis) - SCZ
    • Krefft’s River Turtle (Emydura macquarii krefftii)
    • Red-Bellied Short-Necked Turtle (Emydura subglobosa) - 8 (Shedd), 6 (St. Louis Zoo)
    • Northern Yellow-Faced Turtle (Emydura tanybaraga)
    • Spot-Bellied Sideneck Turtle (Phrynops hilarii) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
  • FAMILY PELOMEDUSIDAE
    • Helmeted Marsh Terrapin (Pelomedusa subrufa) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
    • African Dwarf Mud Turtle (Pelusios nanus) - 6 (SCZ)
  • FAMILY PODOCNEMIDIDAE
    • Big Headed Turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) - 6 (SCZ and Omaha Zoos)
Resources:
TRIONYCHIA  

The superfamily of Softshell Turtles and Pig-Nosed Turtles. As of 2024, 6 species of Trionychia have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 29 throughout the world.

Resources:
TESTUDINOIDEA  

The superfamily of Pond Turtles, Box Turtles, Tortoises and allies. As of 2024, 59 species of Testudinoidea have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 170 throughout the world.

Resources:
CHELYDROIDEA  

The superfamily of Snapping Turtles, Mud Turtles and Musk Turtles. As of 2024, 18 species of Chelydroidea have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 36 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY CHELYDRIDAE - SNAPPING TURTLES
  • FAMILY DERMATEMYDIDAE
    • Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) - Philadelphia Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo
  • FAMILY KINOSTERNIDAE
    • Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternon) - Everglades
    • Razor-Backed Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) - 6 (SCZ)
    • Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) - Baker Wetlands, OKC Zoo
Resources:
CHELONIOIDEA - SEA TURTLES  

The superfamily of Sea Turtles. As of 2024, 6 species of Chelonioidea have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 7 throughout the world.

Resources:

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