Order - Testudines

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Infraphylum: Gnathostomata

Parvphylum: Osteichthyes

Megaclass: Tetrapoda

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Name derivation: “tortoise”

Number of known Species:

  • Suborder: Cryptodira
    • Superfamily: Chelonioidea (7 species - sea turtles, leatherback)
    • Superfamily: Chelydroidea (37 species - snapping, river, mud and musk turtles)
    • Superfamily: Testudinoidea (181 species - pond, water, box, leaf and big-headed turtles, tortoises)
    • Superfamily: Trionychoidea (36 species - pignose and softshell turtles)
  • Suborder: Pleurodira
    • Superfamily: Pelomedusoidea (35 species - Afro-American sideneck turtles)
    • Family: Chelidae (69 species - Austro-American sideneck turtles)

Number of Families: 14

Number of Genus: 96

Number of known Species: 365

Earliest Fossil Record: Late Jurassic 155 mya

Habitat: Terrestrial, Marine, Freshwater

Size Range: 10 cm to 3 m

Notes: Based on Catalogue of Life as of July 2024