Testudinoidea
Encyclopedia
Testudinoidea is a superfamily
within the suborder Cryptodira
of the order Testudines. It includes the families of pond turtles (Emydidae
); Asian turtles (Geoemydidae
); the Big-headed turtle(the monotypic Platysternidae) and tortoises (Testudinidae).
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
within the suborder Cryptodira
Cryptodira
Cryptodira is the taxonomic suborder of Testudines that includes most living tortoises and turtles. Cryptodira differ from Pleurodira in that they lower their necks and pull the heads straight back into the shells; instead of folding their necks sideways along the body under the shells' margins...
of the order Testudines. It includes the families of pond turtles (Emydidae
Emydidae
Emydidae, commonly called the pond turtles or marsh turtles, is a family of turtles. Previously, several species of Asian box turtle were classified in the family. However, revised taxonomy has separated them to a different family. Now, Emydidae, with the exception of two species of pond turtle,...
); Asian turtles (Geoemydidae
Geoemydidae
Geoemydidae is the largest and most diverse family in the order Testudines with about 70 species. It includes the Eurasian pond and river turtles and Neotropical wood turtles.-Characteristics:...
); the Big-headed turtle(the monotypic Platysternidae) and tortoises (Testudinidae).