Testudines

What Are Eastern Box Turtles? Eastern Box Turtles are a land turtle subspecies that live in the eastern United States, distinguished by their ability to seal their shell using a hinged lower section [10]. This reptile belongs to the family Emydidae, a group that includes pond and box turtles, within the order Testudines, which contains […]

The Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) is a small freshwater turtle species native to North America. Its common name references the musky odor it can release from specialized glands as a defense mechanism, a characteristic that also gives it the colloquial nickname “stinkpot” (3, 4). This species belongs to the Kinosternidae family, a group of turtles known for their bottom-dwelling habits. Its small size, typically between 5-14 cm (2-5.5 inches) in length, makes it one of the smaller turtle species in its range (3).

Mata Mata turtles (Chelus fimbriata) are a large, freshwater turtle species from South America, noted for their unique, flattened appearance and exceptional camouflage. This reptile, classified under the family Chelidae, is a highly specialized ambush predator that employs a distinct suction feeding mechanism to capture prey…

Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) are among the largest tortoises in the world, renowned for their immense size and extraordinary longevity [5, 22]. They are part of the family Testudinidae and belong to the order Testudines, class Reptilia, and phylum Chordata, placing them firmly within the vertebrate animal kingdom [5, 2]…

Cooter Turtles (Pseudemys) are large, primarily herbivorous freshwater turtles of the Emydidae family, renowned for their role in regulating aquatic vegetation. Classified within the order Testudines, the genus includes nine species…

Desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii, are reptiles native to the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States [30]. This reptile, a member of the Testudinidae family, is a keystone species defined by a high-domed carapace and limbs specifically adapted for extensive burrowing…

African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata), commonly known as sulcata tortoises, are one of the world’s largest terrestrial tortoise species and the third largest overall. These strong reptiles belong to the Testudinidae family and are native to the arid Sahel region of Africa…

The Flatback Sea Turtle (Natator depressus) is a unique marine reptile endemic to the continental shelf of Australia and its surrounding regions. As a species within the family Cheloniidae, it is distinguished by its low-domed carapace, a defining physical trait that sets it apart from other sea turtles…

Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) are a reptile species of the family Cheloniidae, distinguished by their streamlined body and heart-shaped carapace. Adult turtles typically measure between 24 and 28 inches (61-70 cm) in carapace length and weigh 80 to 110 lbs (36-50 kg)…

Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) are the smallest species of sea turtles, classified within the family Cheloniidae, a group of marine reptiles. Adults typically measure 21.6–27.6 inches (55–70 cm) and weigh up to 119 lbs (54 kg)…

Red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) are semiaquatic turtles renowned for their distinctive red stripe behind each eye, a hallmark of this invasive species within the Emydidae family. Classified under the order Testudines, class Reptilia, these turtles average 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) in shell length…

Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are marine reptiles from the family Cheloniidae, known for their distinctively patterned, amber-colored shells. These creatures are primarily found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans….