Cryptodira
Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Dipsochelys dussumieri)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Linnaeus, 1758
Families
13, See classification

Cryptodira is the taxonomic suborder of Testudines that includes most living tortoises and turtles. Cryptodira differ from Pleurodira, or side-neck turtles, in that they lower their neck, and pull the head straight back into the shell, instead of folding the neck sideways along the body. Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Dipsochelys dussumieri) from Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles, at Bristol Zoo, Bristol, England. ... Binomial name Geochelone gigantea Schweigger, 1812 The Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Geochelone gigantea), from the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, is one of the largest tortoises in the world. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Digimon, the only known animals. ... Template:Tax more Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses Anapsida Diapsida Synonyms Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane, and members of the class Sauropsida. ... 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. ... Alanblazeonfire 19:54, 27 March 2007 (UTC) Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... 1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is 1) a rank or 2) a taxon in that rank. ... Most modern turtles and tortoises belong to this group. ... 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. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... For other uses, see Turtle (disambiguation). ... Pleurodira are a group of southern-hemisphere turtles which, in order to draw their heads into their shells, must fold their neck to the side, instead of withdrawing it directly under their spine like their cousins the cryptodira. ...

Classification and evolution

Cryptodires evolved primarily through the Jurassic period, and by the end of the Jurassic, had almost completely replaced Pleurodires in the lakes and rivers, while beginning to develop land-based species. Cryptodira has four main families: The Jurassic Period is a major unit of the geologic timescale that extends from about 199. ...

Meiolaniidae

The Meiolaniidae family of giant turtles was noted for having developed large bony spikes on the head and tail for protection. They were originally thought to have originated in the Oligocene, in Australian rainforests, but, the findings of fossils in South America suggest that the family originated prior to the break up of Gondwana during the Cretaceous. Meiolania was the last, and best-studied example of this family, whose last relic populations became extinct about 1700-1800 years ago at Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia. Genera Crossochelys Niolamia argentina Ninjemys oweni Meiolania Meiolaniidae is an extinct family of large, possibly herbivorous turtles with heavily armored heads and tails. ... The Oligocene epoch is a geologic period of time that extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present. ... Gondwanaland redirects here. ... The Cretaceous Period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... Synonyms Miolania Meiolania is an extinct genus of cryptodire turtle from the Pleistocene period. ... For the island off Solomon Islands, see Ontong Java Atoll Lord Howe Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean 600 km (373 mi) east of Australia. ...

Testudinidae

The most successful of the cryptodires belonged to the family Testudinidae, which encompasses all modern day land tortoises. The largest known tortoise species is the now-extinct Testudo atlas which is placed in the same genus as the well-known Greek Tortoise. Examples of T. atlas have been found indicating a length of 2.50 meters (over 8 feet), and a weight of over 4 tons. For the band, see Tortoise (band). ... Binomial name Testudo atlas Synonyms Colossochelys Testudo atlas (Atlas turtle), also known as Colossochelys, is an extinct species of cryptodire turtle from the Pleistocene period. ... For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 The Greek Tortoise or Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca) is one of four European members of the Testudinidae family of tortoises. ...

Protostegidae

Protostegidae, an ancient family of sea turtles, these large, highly specialized turtles had lightweight shells, and broad flippers. They lacked the ability to retract their heads.

Trionychidae

The family Trionychidae makes up most of our modern soft-shell turtles, and comprises over 32 species living in the freshwater lakes and rivers of North America, Asia and Africa. The turtle family Trionychidae comprises a number of turtle genera commonly known as Softshell Turtles. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

Geoemydidae

Geoemydidae (formerly known as Bataguridae) is the largest and most diverse family in the order Testudines (turtles) with about 75 species. It includes the Eurasian pond and river turtles and Neotropical wood turtles. Geoemydidae, (formerly known as Bataguridae), is the largest and most diverse family in the order Testudines (turtles) with about 75 species. ...