Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
FAMILY CHELIDAE - TURTLES
Six Paraguayan species in this family classified into four genera. Chelids are characterised by the presence of a cervical scute (present in all but one genus). The number of neurals is reduced with 7 or less present (completely absent in some). There are 9 plastral bones and the mesoplastra is absent. On the skull the temporal arch and quadratojugal are lacking and the prefrontals are not in contact. The palatals are separated by a vomer. The mandible is slender and weak and the neck incompletely retractile - frequently it is curved to the side and tucked under the lip of the carapace for protection. The fifth and sixth cervicals are amphicoelous and none are saddle-shaped. They are aquatic or semi-aquatic turtles typical of marshy and riverine habitats.
REFERENCES
Fouquette MJ (unpublished) - Synopsis of Recent Reptiles to Genus - Arizona University
Whitfield P Ed.1984 - Longman Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia - Guild Publishing, London.
