CHAPTER I: CLASSIFICATION OF THF NORTH 

 AMERICAN TORTOISES AND TURTLES 



THE North American Chelonia is composed of Tortoises, 

 Turtles and Terrapins. The two latter names are employed 

 rather indiscriminately in different portions of this country, 

 but the appellation Terrapin, is generally applied to the hard- 

 shelled, fresh-water species that are edible and consequently 

 have a market value. The Tortoises are strictly terrestrial 

 Chelonians. 



Following is a classified arrangement of the families and 

 genera: 



SUBORDER 



Athecae 



Order CHELONIA 



FAMILY GENUS 



NORTH 

 AMERICAN SPECIES 



SPHARGIDAE 

 (Leather Turtles) 



Sphargis i Species Marine 



I rHFI YnRm \ Chelydra i " Fresh-water 



) Macrochelys i 



(Snapping Turtles) 



en. |Z:;;;; 3 6 ~ 



(Musk or Mud Turtles) ( 



f Chrysemys 15 " 



I Malacoclemmys. . 6 Fresh; brack 



Thecophora < T..TUDXN g^/- ; ; J ^J^ 



(Fresh-water Turtles; ctstudo 5 Terrestrial 



the Tortoises) {Testudo 3 



/-.. \Chelonia 2 " Marine 



CHELONID^ 1 ThaL M ., ,. 



(Sea Turtles) 



TRIONTCHID^B ) Trionyx 4 " Fresh-water 



(Soft-shelled Turtles) ( 



Total number of Species: 44. 



