genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
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 ...
s in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
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
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two in ...
(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 botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...
Rhinoclemmydinae. Member
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of the genus are commonly known as the Neotropical wood turtles and are the only geoemydids known from the
Americas
The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...
. 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 p ...
to a wide range of
habitat
In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, 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 manifestation of its ...
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'' of the family Geoemydidae
The Geoemydidae (formerly known as Bataguridae) are one of the largest and most diverse families in ...
* ''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 the ...
* ''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
Panama, ...
* ''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, officially the Republic of P ...
* ''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, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a countr ...
* ''R. pulcherrima'' –
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, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. I ...
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 (Heming ...
, Panama
''
Nota bene
( ; plural: ) is the Latin language, Latin phrase meaning ''note well''.
In manuscripts, ''nota bene'' is abbreviated in upper-case as NB and N.B., and in lower-case as n.b. and nb; the editorial usages of ''nota bene'' and ''notate bene'' fi ...
'': A
binomial authority
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, altho ...
in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Rhinoclemmys''.