Turtle and Crocodilian Diversity

Question 1

Side-necked turtles

Answer 1

Pleurodira

Question 2

15 genera, 56 sp
S America, Australia, New Guinea
Skull flattened and broad or long, cervical scute usually present, intergular scute present b/w or posterior to gulars, pleurodirans

Answer 2

Chelidae

Question 3

2 genera, 27 sp
Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles
Cervical scute absent, intergular scute b/w gulars, pleurodirans

Answer 3

Pelomedusidae

Question 4

3 genera, 8 sp
S America and Madagascar
No specimens
pleurodirans

Answer 4

Podocnemididae

Question 5

Hidden-necked turtles

11 Families, 250 sp

Answer 5

Cryptodira

Question 6

2 genera, 6 sp
N America, Central America, NW South America (New World)
Reduced plastron, carapace serrated posteriorly, 3 knobby keels on carapace, short bridge, large head, hooked beak, long tail w/ tubercles, head can’t completely retract, cryptodirans, snapping turtles

Answer 6

Chelydridae

Question 7

13 genera, 31 sp
N America, Africa, Asia, New Guinea
Aquatic, smooth leathery shell, pointed snout (tube-like), flattened body, fully webbed toes, cryptodirans, softshell turtles

Answer 7

Trionychidae

Question 8

1 genus, 1 sp
New Guinea and N Australia
pig-like snout, only freshwater turtle w/ large flipper-like front limbs, cryptodirans, pignose turtle

Answer 8

Carettochelyidae

Question 9

6 genera, 7 sp
Temperate and tropical oceans
Only marine turtles, forelimbs more strongly developed than hind, forelimbs paddle-like, head can’t be retracted, cryptodirans, sea turtles and leatherbacks

Answer 9

Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae

Question 10

4 genera, 25 sp
N and S America
Live in still/slow water, shell elongated, plastron may be reduced and/or hinged, musk glands present, barbells on chin and neck, short tail, cryptodirans, mud and musk turtles

Answer 10

Kinosternidae

Question 11

1 genus, 1 sp
N Central America
Large aquatic turtle, cryptodirans, no specimens
Critically Endangered

Answer 11

Dermatemydidae

Question 12

1 genus, 1 sp
SE Asia, S China
Huge head, tail as long as carapace, carapace flattened, head can’t be retracted, cryptodirans, big-headed turtle

Answer 12

Platysternidae

Question 13

11 genera, 52 sp
N America, S America, Europe, NW Africa, Middle East, Central Asia
Diverse, terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and brackish-water turtles, cryptodirans, painted turtles

Answer 13

Emydidae

Question 14

Coast and Central Valley

Carapace low w/ network of dark lines that radiate from centers of scutes, head w/ black patterning, cryptodiran

Answer 14

Family: Emydidae

Actinemys marmorata

Question 15

Scattered pops
Carapace pattern variable but often w/ light parallel streaks in second and third costal scutes, head and limbs striped w/ yellow, red blotch or stripe behind eyes, rear or carapace saw-toothed, dark markings on plastron, cryptodiran

Answer 15

Family: Emydidae

Trachemys scripta

Question 16

19 genera, 69 sp
Asia, Europe, N Africa, Latin America
Diverse, semi-aquatice, terrestrial, cryptodirans

Answer 16

Geomydidae

Question 17

17 genera, 57 sp
S North America, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Madagascar, some oceanic islands
Terrestrial, elephantine hind limbs, shovel-like forelimbs, absence of webbed toes, cryptodirans

Answer 17

Testudinidae

Question 18

4 genera, 8 sp
SE US, Central America, S America, E China
Teeth of lower jaw fit in the upper jaw and can’t be seen when the mouth is closed, front feet unwebbed, median and lateral pelvic keeled scale rows merge to become Y-shaped caudal keel

Answer 18

Alligatoridae

Question 19

2 genera, 2 sp
S Asia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Peninsular Malaysia
Elongated narrow snout, primarily for piscivory, possibly most aquati of the crocodilians, inhabits fast flowing streams and rivers

Answer 19

Gavialidae

Question 20

3 genera, 15 sp
Central America, NW South America, West Indies, Southern tip of Florida, Madagascar, Africa, S/SE Asia, Melanasia, N Australia
Fourth tooth of the lower jaw is accommodated in a noth in the upper jaw and is visible when the mouth is closed, longer more narrow snout

Answer 20

Crocodylidae

Question 21

17 genera, 57 sp
southern NA, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Madagascar, and some oceanic islands
Terrestrial turtles, “elephantine” hind limbs, shovel-like forelimbs, absence of webbed toes

Answer 21

Testudinidae

Question 22

SE deserts
high domed shell, prominent growth lines on scutes, carapace lacks patterning, plastron lacks hinge, forelimbs covered w/ large conical scales, limbs elephantine, tail short, cryptodiran

Answer 22

Family: Testudinidae

Gopherus agassizii