The Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (TTWG) is an informal working group of the
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...
/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG). It is composed of a number of leading
turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order (biology), order Testudines, characterized by a special turtle shell, shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Crypt ...
taxonomist
In biology, taxonomy () is the science, scientific study of naming, defining (Circumscription (taxonomy), circumscribing) and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped into taxon, taxa (si ...
s, with varying participation by individual participants over the years, some dropping out and others joining.
Works
The TTWG has produced an annual checklist of living and recently extinct turtles since 2007, deliberates on proposed changes to turtle taxonomy, and describes its consideration whether to accept, reject, or suspend adoption of proposed changes in a series of annotations to the checklist. Recent versions of the checklist
have included full primary synonymies and citations to all original descriptions of recent turtle taxa, as well as
CITES
CITES (shorter acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of inte ...
and IUCN Red List status of each species as applicable.
References
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External links
Turtles Information & Resources WebsiteTortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group
Taxonomy (biology) organizations
Turtle organizations
Turtle taxonomy
Testudines