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Testudines

Turtles
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Subclass:Anapsida
Order:Testudines

Table of contents
1 Synonyms and common names
2 Text
3 Classification of Turtles
4 Order Testudines - Turtles
5 References

Synonyms and common names

Turtles, terrapins, tortoises

Text


Leatherback turtle. Photo credit:
NOAA

Testudines is the order of reptiles containing all turtles. All living turtles are in Chelonia; but some extinct turtles are Testudines but not Chelonia.

Testudines are anapsids, that is, their skulls lack temporal openings, and they are classified by cladists in the taxon Anapsida. All other extant amniotes have temporal openings (although in mammals the hole is obscured).

See Also: Jackson Ratio

Classification of Turtles

Order Testudines - Turtles

Suborder Cryptodira

Suborder Pleurodira

References

" class="external">http://www.innvista.com/taxonomy/reptiles/default.htm
as of 2002-06-16
" class="external">http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/anapsids/testudines/testudines.html
as of 2002-06-17