Archosaur families - Turtles

Chelidae

Austro-American Side-Necked Turtles

Chelidae distribution

Australia, New Guinea, South America

Chelidae characteristics

highly aquatic (some can breathe through cloaca), Mata mata, Mary River Turtle

Pelomedusidae

African Mud Turtles

Pelomedusidae distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa

Pelomedusidae characteristics

slow-moving bottom walkers, carnivorous or omnivorous, one sp has hinged anterior shell, side-necked version of Kinosternids

Trionychidae

Softshell Turtles

Trionychidae distribution

North America, Africa, South Asia, Indonesia

Trionychidae characteristics

fast swimmers, extensive webbing, snorkel nose, ambush predators buried in substrate, includes rarest turtle and biggest freshwater turtle

Carettochelyidae

Pig-nosed Turtle

Carettochelyidae distribution

North Australia, South New Guinea

Carettochelyidae characteristics

primarily herbivorous, flippers for feet, fleshy proboscis, embryos develop fully in egg then wait for the nest to flood before hatching

Emydidae

Pond and Box Turtles

Emydidae distribution

mostly North America and Europe (patches in South America, NW Africa, W Asia)

Emydidae characteristics

generalist omnivores, variety of ecomorphs (including brackish), 7 species in Kansas

Geomydidae

no common name

Geomydidae distribution

Eastern Hemisphere around Mediterranean, South Asia and Indonesia (1 sp in western hemisphere)

Geomydidae characteristics

highly diverse in SE Asia, highly pressured due to pet trade/traditional medicine/food, new species sometimes discovered in markets, 70% endangered or vulnerable. Ecological equivalent of Emydids

Testudinidae

Tortoises

Testudinidae distribution

worldwide (except Australia), including islands

Testudinidae characteristics

terrestrial, high domed shell, elephantine feet, independent gigantism on islands, uses forelimbs as a shield when pulled into shell

Kinosternidae

American Mud and Musk Turtles

Kinosternidae distribution

North America, northern South America

Kinosternidae characteristics

elongate shells, bottom walkers, chin barbels, great climbers, carnivores, expel musk

Chelydridae

Snapping Turtles

Chelydridae distribution

North America, northern South America

Chelydridae characteristics

big heads, powerful jaws, bottom walkers, great climbers, reduced plastrons, assertive when harassed

Cheloniidae

Sea Turtles

Cheloniidae distribution

temperate and tropical oceans

Cheloniidae characteristics

marine, forelimbs are flippers, variety of diets, natal homing across ocean basins, lay eggs on land

Dermatochelyidae

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermatochelyidae distribution

temperate and tropical oceans

Dermatochelyidae characteristics

jellyfish specialist, reduction in boniness, natal homing, goes into cooler water due to larger size and activity, biggest extant turtle