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 ...
of
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 ...
Geoemydidae
The Geoemydidae (formerly known as Bataguridae) are one of the largest and most diverse families in the order Testudines (turtles), with about 70 species. The family includes the Eurasian pond and river turtles and Neotropical wood turtles. Mem ...
(formerly Bataguridae), the only genus in the subfamily Rhinoclemmydinae. Member
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of the genus are commonly known as the Neotropical wood turtles and are the only geoemydids known from the
Americas
The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World.
Along with th ...
. As such, they have
adapted
In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...
to a wide range of
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
s, which is reflected in the species' common names.
Species
The genus ''Rhinoclemmys'' contains the following extant and fossil species which are recognized as being valid:
* ''R. annulata'' –
brown wood turtle
The brown wood turtle or brown land turtle (''Rhinoclemmys annulata'') is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to Central America and northern South America.
Taxonomy
''R. annulata'' is one of nine species of tu ...
* ''R. areolata'' –
furrowed wood turtle
The furrowed wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys areolata'') is a species of turtle belonging to the genus ''Rhinoclemmys
''Rhinoclemmys'' is a genus of turtles in the family Geoemydidae (formerly Bataguridae), the only genus in the subfamily Rhinocle ...
* ''R. diademata'' –
Maracaibo wood turtle
The Maracaibo wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys diademata'') is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic to northern South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in t ...
* ''R. funerea'' –
black river turtle
The black wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys funerea''), or black river turtle is one of nine species of turtle in the genus ''Rhinoclemmys'', which is in the family Geoemydidae.
It is found in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama
Panam ...
painted wood turtle
The ornate or painted wood turtle
* ''R. punctularia'' –
spot-legged wood turtle
The painted wood turtle or spot-legged wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys punctularia'') is a species of turtle belonging to the genus ''Rhinoclemmys'' of the family Geoemydidae.
Distribution
The painted wood turtle can be found in Brazil, French G ...
* ''R. rubida'' –
Mexican spotted wood turtle
The Mexican spotted wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys rubida'') or Mexican spotted terrapin is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae.
It is endemic to Mexico
Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican Sta ...
Hemingfordian
The Hemingfordian on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology (NALMA), typically set from 20,600,000 to 16,300,000 years BP. It is usually considered to overlap the lates ...