Classification: Scientific classification - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Bilateria Acoelomorpha Orthonectida Rhombozoa ?Myxozoa Superphylum Deuterostomia Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Crocodylia - Crocodilians Rhynchocephalia - Tuataras Squamata Suborder Sauria - Lizards Suborder Serpentes - Snakes Testudines - Turtles Superorder Dinosauria Saurischia Ornithischia The reptiles are a group of vertebrate animals. ... Orders Testudines (Turtles) Millerettid - extinct Nyctiphruret - extinct Pareiasaur - extinct Procolophonoid - extinct The anapsids are a group of amniotes, characterized by skulls without openings near the temples. ... Families See text Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudinata, most of whose body is shielded by a special bony shell developed from their ribs. ... Most modern turtles and tortoises belong to this group. ...
Osteological characters, such as the construction of the mandible and articulations of the cervical vertebrae also distinguish the two subfamilies.
Some authors have felt these differences worthy of family status for the two groups (Emydidae and Bataguridae).
In this configuration, the Batagurids are placed in closer association with the Testudinidae in a group called the Testudinoidae, which excludes the Emydidae.