''Rhinoclemmys'' is a

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 nomencla ...

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. Ideall ...

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. Memb ...

(formerly Bataguridae), the only genus in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoolog ...

Rhinoclemmydinae. Member

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...

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 t ...

. 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 * ''R. areolata'' – furrowed wood turtle * ''R. diademata'' –

Maracaibo wood turtle The Maracaibo wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys diademata'') is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae. The species is endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state ...

* ''R. funerea'' – black river turtle * ''R. melanosterna'' –

Colombian wood turtle The Colombian wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys melanosterna'') is one of nine species of turtle belonging to the genus ''Rhinoclemmys'' of the family Geoemydidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panam ...

* ''R. nasuta'' –

large-nosed wood turtle The large-nosed wood turtle (''Rhinoclemmys nasuta'') is one of nine species of turtle in the genus ''Rhinoclemmys'' of the family Geoemydidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' ...

* ''R. pulcherrima'' – painted wood turtle * ''R. punctularia'' – spot-legged wood turtle * ''R. rubida'' – Mexican spotted wood turtle * †'' R. panamaensis'' -

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 ...

Cucaracha Formation The Cucaracha Formation (Tca)Geologic Map, 1980 is a Formation (geology), geologic formation in Panama. It preserves vertebrate and plant fossils dating back to the Neogene Period (geology), period; Miocene, Early to Middle Miocene epochs (Hemingf ...

, Panama ''

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 taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Rhinoclemmys''.

References

Bibliography

* * *

Species

References

Bibliography

Further reading