CHAPTER I : CLASSIFICATION OF TH NOR'fH 

 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 : 



Order CHELONIA 



NORTH 

 SUBORDER FAMILY GENUS AMERICAN SPECIES 



Athecse ] SPHA RGIDAE ] Sphargis i Species Marine 



( (Leather Turtles) ( 

 C r 



CHELYDRIOE ) Chelydra i " Fresh- water 



(Snapping Turtles) \Macrockdy3 i 



CINOSTERNIDAE \Cinosternum 6 " 



(Musk or Mud Turtles) ( Aromochelys 3 



C Chrysemys 15 " " 



I Malacoclemmys. . 6 " Fresh; brack 

 Thecophora { TESTUDINIM: J Chelopus 4 ish water 



(Fresh-water Turtles; ^istud ' ' ^^^ 



the Tortoises) \ Testi d ^ " err ( e strial 



CHELONID^ \Ckelonia. 2 "Marine 



(Sea Turtles) \Thalassochdys... 2 



TRION-YCHHXE [ Trionyx 4 " Fresh-water 



(Soft-shelled Turtles) ( 

 Total number of Species: 44. 



