CHAPTER I: CLASSIFICATION OF THF NORTH 

 AMERICAN TORTOISES AND TURTLES 



The North American Chclonia is composed of Tortoises, 

 Turtles and Terrapins. Tiie 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 : 



Order CHELONIA 



Suborder 



Athecae 



Family 



-I Sphargidae 

 ( (Leather Turtles) 



f 

 Chelydrid.e 

 (Snapping Turtles) 



CiNOSTERNIDAE 



Genus 



North 

 American Species 



Sphargis i Species Marine 



Thecophora < 



) Chelydra i 



J Macrochelys i 



Fresh-water 



(Musk or Mud Turtles) ( 



Cinosternmn 6 



A romochelys 3 



TeSTCDINID/E 

 (Fresh-water Turtles; 

 the Tortoises) 



Chelonid^ 



(Sea Turtles) 



Chrysemys 15 



Malacoctemmys . . 6 



i Chclopus 4 



f Emys I 



I Cistudo 5 



{Testudo 3 



\ Chelonia 2 



1 Thalassochclys ... 2 



Trionychid^ < Trionyx. 



(Soft-shelled Turtles) ( 



Fresh ; brack 



ish water 



Fresh-wat.:r 



Terrestrial 



Marine 



Fresh-water 



Total number of Species: 44. 



