''Emys'' is a small

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

turtle Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked t ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Emydidae. The genus (''

sensu lato ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular c ...

'') is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

and North America.

Species

The following two species may be assigned to the genus ''Emys'' (''sensu lato''). ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...

'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Emys''.

Taxonomy

The eastern North American species, ''E. blandingii'', is usually separated into its own genus, '' Emydoidea''. Similarly, the western North American species, ''E. marmorata'' and ''E. pallida'', were recently moved to their own genus, ''

Actinemys ''Actinemys'' is a small genus of turtles in the family Emydidae."''Actinemys'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.or The genus is Endemism, endemic to the west coast of North America. The genus contains two species. Species The fol ...

''.

References

;Bibliography * *

Species

Taxonomy

References

Further reading